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Who Was Justine Damond?

Justine Maia Damond (born Justine Ruszczyk) was a 40-year-old Australian-American woman living in the Fulton neighborhood of Minneapolis. She was a yoga teacher and life coach who was engaged to be married. (Wikipedia)


What Happened on July 15, 2017

  • On the night of July 15, 2017, Damond called 911 twice to report what she believed was a possible sexual assault behind her home. (Wikipedia)

  • Minutes after calling police, officers Matthew Harrity and Mohamed Noor responded and drove into the alley behind her house. (Wikipedia)

  • As Damond approached the police vehicle, Mohamed Noor (in the passenger seat) fired a single fatal shot through the driver’s side window, striking her in the abdomen. She was unarmed and barefoot. (Wikipedia)

  • Officers attempted CPR, but Damond died at the scene. (Wikipedia)

  • No body-camera footage captured the incident because neither officer had activated their cameras. (Wikipedia)


Who Was the Officer?

  • The officer who shot Damond was Mohamed Noor, a Minneapolis Police Department officer born in Somalia (later a Somali-American). (Wikipedia)

  • Noor’s partner (driver) was Matthew Harrity. (Wikipedia)

  • During trial testimony, Noor claimed he shot because he feared for his partner’s life after a loud noise and Damond’s sudden appearance. Prosecutors argued the decision to shoot was unreasonable given the circumstances and lack of threat. (Wikipedia)


Criminal Charges and Trial

  • In March 2018, Noor was charged with second-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. (Hennepin County Attorney)

  • In April 2019, a jury convicted him of third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter for the fatal shooting. (PBS)

  • In June 2019, the judge sentenced Noor to 12½ years in prison. (ABC News)

  • However, in September 2021, the Minnesota Supreme Court overturned the third-degree murder conviction, ruling that statute didn’t fit the specific facts, leaving the manslaughter conviction in place. (ABC)

  • Noor was re-sentenced on the manslaughter conviction to 57 months (4.75 years) in prison — the maximum under state guidelines — and with credit for time served. (PBS)

  • He was released in June 2022 on supervised release, completing his incarceration after serving about two-thirds of the sentence. (ABC)


Settlement and Broader Impact

  • The City of Minneapolis agreed to a $20 million settlement with Damond’s family — at the time the largest in city history for a police killing. (Wikipedia)

  • The case attracted significant international attention, especially because Damond called police for help and was shot by the officer who responded. It raised questions about police training, use of force, and accountability. (Wikipedia)


Context

  • This shooting occurred in Minneapolis just weeks after other controversial policing incidents in the region (like the 2016 killing of Philando Castile). (Wikipedia)


Below are primary sources for the Justine Damond (Ruszczyk) case, including official court records, government statements, and the 911 call audio/transcripts. These are first-order sources suitable for research, teaching, or citation.

Primary Source Documents (Official & Original Records)

1. 911 Call Audio & Transcripts

Source: City of Minneapolis / Media releases (2017)

  • What it is: Audio recordings of two 911 calls made by Justine Damond shortly before she was killed.

  • Why it matters: Confirms she was requesting police help, calm, and reporting a possible sexual assault.

Key facts from the calls:

  • She describes hearing a woman crying/screaming behind her home.

  • She is concerned someone may be in danger.

  • No indication of hostility, threat, or erratic behavior.

Primary Access (audio & transcript):

  • CNN primary posting of released audio (2017)

  • Minneapolis Star Tribune (published full transcript from city release)

2. Minnesota v. Mohamed Noor – Criminal Complaint

Source: Hennepin County Attorney’s Office (March 2018)

  • Document: Formal criminal complaint charging Mohamed Noor

  • Charges listed:

    • Second-degree manslaughter

    • Third-degree murder (later overturned on appeal)

Why it matters:This document lays out the state’s theory of the shooting, officer statements, forensic findings, and witness accounts.

Primary document:

  • Hennepin County Attorney press release & charging memo

3. Trial Court Verdict (2019)

Source: Hennepin County District Court

  • Jury verdict:

    • Guilty: 3rd-degree murder

    • Guilty: 2nd-degree manslaughter

Why it matters:Shows how a jury evaluated officer fear claims vs. objective reasonableness.

Primary record:

  • Minnesota Judicial Branch – verdict filing

4. Minnesota Supreme Court Opinion (2021)

Case: State of Minnesota v. Mohamed Noor

  • Holding:

    • Third-degree murder conviction overturned

    • Manslaughter conviction upheld

Why it matters:Clarifies how Minnesota law interprets “depraved mind” murder and limits its application to generalized risk, not a single targeted act.

Primary opinion (full text):

  • Minnesota Supreme Court official ruling

5. Sentencing & Resentencing Orders

Source: Minnesota Judicial Branch

  • Original sentence: 12.5 years (2019)

  • Resentencing: 57 months (2022) for manslaughter only

Primary record:

  • Official sentencing order and resentencing memorandum

6. Civil Settlement Agreement

Source: City of Minneapolis (2018)

  • Amount: $20 million

  • Nature: Civil settlement with Damond’s family (no admission of liability)

Why it matters:Largest police-killing settlement in Minneapolis history at the time.

Primary city record:

  • Minneapolis City Council settlement approval

Key Takeaways from Primary Sources

  • Justine Damond initiated contact with police seeking help.

  • She was unarmed, barefoot, and approaching calmly.

  • No body-cam footage exists due to non-activation.

  • The officer fired from inside the vehicle, through the window.

  • Criminal accountability occurred, but legal limits reduced the conviction on appeal.


General / Informational

#JustineDamond#JustineRuszczyk#MinneapolisShooting#PoliceUseOfForce#911Call#CriminalJustice#LawEnforcementAccountability

Justice & Accountability Focus

#JusticeForJustine#PoliceAccountability#RuleOfLaw#EqualJustice#AccountabilityMatters#UseOfForcePolicy

Public Policy / Legal Discussion

#CriminalLaw#Manslaughter#PoliceReform#BodyCameras#SupremeCourtRuling#PublicSafety

Victims & Community Impact

#VictimsRights#CommunityTrust#ProtectAndServe#CivilRights#PublicTrust

Educational / Research Content

#CaseStudy#CriminalJusticeEducation#LegalAnalysis#LawAndOrder#TrueCrimeResearch


 
 
 

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