Former Minneapolis Police Officer Mohamed Noor was given a prison sentence of 12 and a half years for the fatal shooting of Justine Damond Ruszczyk.
Damond Ruszczyk was shot and killed July 15 after calling 911 to report a possible sexual assault near her residence. She was fatally shot by Noor, who responded to the call. On April 30 Noor was convicted of third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter for the shooting.
SEE ALSO: ‘This Is America’: Noor verdict adds to collective trauma
Both the family of Damond Ruszczyk and Noor read statements in court. “Justine’s death has left me incomplete — it is as if I have lost a limb or a leg,” Justine’s father, John Ruszczyk reportedly said in a statement read in court.
Noor expressed remorse as he apologized to Damond Ruszczyk ‘s family. “I have lived with this and I will continue to live with this,” he said. “I caused this tragedy and it is my burden. I wish though that I could relieve that burden others feel from the loss that I caused. I cannot, and that is a troubling reality for me.”
Justice For Justine, a social justice advocacy group formed by Justine Damond Ruszczyk’s neighbors after her fatal shooting, released a statement applauding the sentence while calling for more accountability.
“We appreciate that the justice system acknowledges that a crime was committed here, ” read the statement, “but just as important is the public recognition that broader reform is needed.”
The group called for Gov. Walz to audit the BCA for deficiencies and for acting Hennepin County Attorneys David Brown and Lolita Ulloa to re-open the investigations into the deaths of Jamar Clark and all other police violence victims, among other demands.
Noor is reportedly the first police officer in recent Minnesota history to be convicted of murder and manslaughter in connection to an on-duty shooting. He will serve out his time at the Minnesota Correctional Facility in St. Cloud, with an expected release date of August 30, 2027. His sentence also includes a $6,000 fine.
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The white cop that killed Philando Castile goes free, no charges what-so-ever, but since this cop shot a white woman he get’s 12.5 years. Why, why, why do we see this over and over, and over. It got old long time ago.