Minneapolis police shooting of Australian
woman sparks questions about body cameras
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[July 18, 2017]
By Todd Melby
MINNEAPOLIS (Reuters) - Authorities and
activists on Monday questioned why Minneapolis police who fatally shot
an Australian woman over the weekend did not have their body cameras
turned on during the incident.
Justine Damond's American fiance also wondered about the details of how
she was shot. She had called the police to report a suspected sexual
assault near her home, fiance Don Damond told reporters outside the
home.
"We lost the dearest of people and we are desperate for information,"
Damond said. "Piecing together Justine's last moments before the
homicide would be a small comfort as we grieve this tragedy."
Also known as Justine Ruszczyk, she had already taken Damond's last
name.
Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges and the American Civil Liberties Union
(ACLU) of Minnesota called for answers on why the two responding
officers failed to turn on their body cameras when they arrived at
Damond's home in a quiet, upper-middle-class neighborhood shortly before
midnight on Saturday.
Police shot Damond, originally from Sydney, through the door of their
patrol car as she approached them in an alley near her home, the
Minneapolis Star-Tribune reported, citing three unnamed sources.
Minneapolis Police Chief Janee Harteau called Damond's death "tragic" in
a statement on Monday and promised a "transparent" investigation.
Damond's father, John Ruszczyk, told reporters in Sydney on Tuesday that
her death was "our worst nightmare".
"Justine was a beacon to all of us. We only ask that the light of
justice shine down on the circumstances of her death," he said.
OFFICER IMMIGRATED FROM SOMALIA
The officer who shot Damond was identified by the Minneapolis Star
Tribune and other local media as Mohamed Noor.
Noor's lawyer, Tom Plunkett, said in a statement that Noor extends his
condolences to Damond's family. The statement did not describe Noor's
role in the shooting, and authorities have not confirmed the identities
of the officers involved.
"He came to the United States at a young age and is thankful to have had
so many opportunities," Plunkett said of Noor, who was previously
described by the city as a native of Somalia.
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Justine Damond, also known as Justine Ruszczyk, from Sydney, is seen
in this 2015 photo released by Stephen Govel Photography in New
York, U.S., on July 17, 2017. Courtesy Stephen Govel/Stephen Govel
Photography/Handout via REUTERS
"The current environment for police is difficult, but Officer Noor
accepts this as part of his calling. We would like to say more and
will in the future."
Hundreds took to the streets of Minneapolis on Sunday to protest
Damond's shooting.
The state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA), which reviews
shootings involving the police in Minneapolis, said the dashboard
camera in the officers' patrol car did not capture the shooting. The
BCA is seeking any civilian video of the incident.
The ACLU of Minnesota called for the release of the audio from
Damond's 911 call, along with any audio from the officers' dash
camera. The group's interim executive director, Teresa Nelson, said
the officers failed to obey department rules by not having their
body cameras on.
Damond owned a meditation and life-coaching company, according to
her personal website. Media gave her age as 40.
Sarah Darmody, who said in a Facebook post that she had been friends
with Damond since high school in Sydney, blamed the shooting on the
gun laws in the United States, which has one of the highest rates of
gun ownership in the world.
"There is no good reason and there are no other countries in the
world where people would rather arm everyone than stop this
happening," Darmody wrote. "I'm so sad and so angry I can't even
breathe."
Both officers have been placed on administrative leave, the state
BCA said. Minneapolis police referred further questions about the
incident to the BCA.
(Additional reporting by Jonathan Allen and Chris Michaud in New
York and James Redmayne in Sydney, writing by Gina Cherelus; Editing
by David Gregorio, Cynthia Osterman and Neil Fullick)
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