After former Minneapolis police officer Mohamed Noor was convicted of third-degree murder and second degree manslaughter for the shooting death of Justine Ruszczyk Damond, her finance, Damond, read a statement to the media . It follows below.
Nearly two years ago, my fiance, Justine Ruszczyk Damond was shot dead in her pajamas outside our home without warning as she walked up to a police car, which she had summoned.
Ironically, the Minneapolis Police Department emblem on the squad door reads to protect with courage and to serve with compassion. Where were these values that night? Justine tried to help. She called the police department to report sounds of a woman in distress. She called them because she needed them to protect with courage and serve with compassion. But that night there was a tragic lapse of care and complete disregard for the sanctity of life.
The evidence in this case clearly show it an egregious failure of the Minneapolis Police Department. I implore the Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frye and Police Chief Medaria Arradondoto do everything they can to ensure that these essential human values are not just words on a car door, but our lived values of every person in the police department who need a complete transformation of policing and Minneapolis and around the country.
I want to thank Hennepin County Attorney, Mike Freeman for recognizing how unjust this act was and by making a just decision to charge this case. I want to thank Assistant Hennepin County Attorney Amy Sweezey, and Patrick Loft for prosecuting this case with such care, diligence and integrity. I want to also thank the staff of the Hennepin County Victim Services Division for their support of our families. During this time, I'm grateful to Hennepin county investigator Nancy Dunlap and BCA special agent Bren t Peterson for their diligence and completing this investigation in the way it needed to be completed.
I also want to thank everyone who has held us in their hearts and prayers. We've not walked this path alone. This case is about Justine and Justine lived to teach us about love. She lived to teach us about our own human potential. She taught us to live joyfully. She taught us to, to laugh, and she demonstrated what it means to live from the heart. She was a living example of compassion in her life. She committed to transform humanity and her legacy is continuing that work today. Thank you.
Arradondo issued a statement in which he said he respected the verdict. He also apologized directly to Damond's family.
"I want to extend my sincere apologies to the family and friends of Justine Damond Ruszcyzk. This was indeed a sad and tragic incident that has affected family, friends, neighbors, the City of Minneapolis and people around the world, most significantly in her home country of Australia," it read.
He also promised that the department indeed change as a result of the case.
"As Chief, I will ensure that the MPD learns from this case and we will be in spaces to listen, learn and do all we can to help our communities in healing," he said.
In his statement following the verdict, Mayor Frey also said that the city has work to do.
“What matters most for Minneapolis is how we respond in the days and weeks ahead. Our city must come together – not for any single person, entity, or organization – not for any reason beyond our love for each other and the values that hold us together,” he said.
