Black former Minneapolis cop, Mohamed Noor, convicted in the fatal shooting of 911 caller, Justine Damond Ruszczyk, was released from prison.
Noor was released on June 27, after serving over three years behind bars, as he was previously convicted of third-degree murder and manslaughter in the death of Ruszczyk. He was initially sentenced to 12.5 years in prison. Still, the Minnesota Supreme Court nullified the conviction in 2021 and resentenced the ex-police officer to four years and nine months for manslaughter. As such, he received credit for the 908 days he had already served.
Noor, a Somali-American man, was reportedly placed under the supervision of Hennepin County Community Corrections, The Minnesota Department Of Corrections’ official site indicates.
He was accused of shooting Ruszczyk in July 2017 after she called the police about a possible sexual assault behind her home. When he arrived at the scene, he shot across his partner, striking and killing the Australian woman.
During his trial, the Minnesota man said he heard a loud noise by an alley near the 40-year-old woman’s house and that he reacted in fear of himself and his partner being ambushed. As she came by the car’s driver’s side window, Noor fired his gun from the passenger seat.
Ruszczyk’s fiance reportedly spoke to the ex-Minneapolis cop, saying he forgave him for his actions and that his fiancée would’ve also forgiven him.
“I’m deeply grateful for Mr. Damond’s forgiveness,” Noor said. “I am deeply sorry for the pain that I’ve caused that family. And I will take his advice and be a unifier. Thank you.”
The victim’s parents, on the other hand, showed no remorse as they asked the judge in the former officer’s hearing to impose the harshest sentence on him.
“Our sorrow is forever; our lives will always endure an emptiness,” they said.
