A Minnesota man and his family are searching for answers after his Australian fiance was fatally shot Saturday night by a Minneapolis police officer who responded to her 911 call for assistance.
The officer reportedly fired at the pajama-clad victim from inside a police cruiser while she addressed his partner through the drivers window.
Justine Ruszczyk, 40, was killed after she called 911 to report what she thought was a possible assault on her street, her fianc confirmed Monday.
It appears she most frequently went by the name Justine Damond, even though she was not yet legally married to fianc Don Damond, 50. The couple had planned to get married in August , according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune.
Shown below are Justine Damond, Don Damond and Dons son Zach Damond.
Don Damond mourned the loss of his fiance in a statement Monday afternoon and criticized the police for not being more forthcoming with information surrounding her death.
Our hearts are broken and were utterly devastated by the loss of Justine, he said, describing his fiancee as a teacher to so many in living a life of openness, love and kindness.
She was so kind and so darned funny, Damond said while holding back tears. Were desperate for information. Piecing together Justines last moments before the homicide would be a small comfort.
The Hennepin County Medical Examiner announced Monday that Justine Damond died of a gunshot wound to the abdomen and described her death as a homicide.
Australias Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said it would provide consular assistance to the victims family, and released a brief statement on behalf of relatives.
This is a very difficult time for our family, the statement says. We are trying to come to terms with this tragedy and to understand why this has happened.
Justine Damonds father, John Ruszczyk, addressed her death in a statement to Australian media on Tuesday.
We thought yesterday was our worst nightmare, but we awoke to the ugly truth and it hurt even more, he said. Justine was a beacon to all of us, we only ask that the light of justice shine down on the circumstances of her death.
Zach Damond, 22, who identified himself as the slain womans future stepson, said in a video posted to Facebook that she was killed after calling 911 to report a sound in the alley behind her home.
Justine Damond went outside in her pajamas to talk to the officers when they arrived to investigate about 11:30 p.m. She was reportedly speaking to police from outside the drivers door when the officer in the passenger seat pulled his gun and shot through the drivers side door, striking Damond, sources familiar with the incident told the Star Tribune . No weapon was found at the scene.
The officer who fired has been identified as Mohammed Noor, the first Somali-American officer to join the Minneapolis Police Departments 5th Precinct team, according to local CBS affiliate WCCO .
City records show Noor had three complaints on file, according to local ABC affiliate KSTP. One complaint against him was dismissed with no disciplinary action, though two remain open.
Officer Noor extends his condolences to the family and anyone else who has been touched by this event, Tom Plunkett, Noors attorney, said in a statement Monday. He came to the United States at a young age and is thankful to have had so many opportunities. He takes these events very seriously because, for him, being a police officer is a calling.
The current environment for police is difficult, but Officer Noor accepts this as part of his calling, the statement continued.
Zach Damond reacted to the incident in a video posted to the Facebook page for Womens March Minnesota.
Basically my moms dead because a police officer shot her for reasons I dont know, he says in the video. I demand answers. If anybody can help, just call police and demand answers. Im so done with all this violence.
Minneapolis police faced intense pressure after authorities admitted there was no video footage from the officers body cameras.
The state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, which was leading the investigation, said body cameras worn by the officers were not turned on at the time and the squad camera did not capture the incident. The agency said it was seeking any other video that may have been taken.
Since 2016, Minneapolis has required all officers to wear and activate body cameras at all times when they could reasonably anticipate that they may become involved in a situation for which activation is appropriate.
The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension will provide additional details of the incident once initial interviews with the officers are complete, the agency said in a statement Monday. Those interviews have been requested by BCA agents. The officers are working with their attorneys to schedule them.
Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges said she had questions about why the bodycams werent on and was heartsick and deeply disturbed by what occurred.
There are still many questions about what took place, and while the investigation is still in its early stages, I am asking the BCA to release as much information, as quickly as they are able to, Hodges said in a statement.
Both officers involved in the shooting were placed on paid administrative leave, the Star Tribune reported.
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