Murder Verdict Reversed in Justine Damond Case (Minneapolis)

2017-2021
The Minnesota Supreme Court on Wednesday reversed the third-degree murder conviction of a former Minneapolis police officer who fatally shot an Australian woman in 2017, saying the charge doesn't fit the circumstances in this case. Mohamed Noor was convicted of third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter in the death of Justine Damond, a dual US-Australian citizen who called 911 to report a possible sexual assault behind her home. He was sentenced to 12 1/2 years on the murder count but was not sentenced for manslaughter.

Noor was later sentenced on the manslaughter charge:
Manslaughter sentencing
Quaintance sentenced Noor to the high end of the presumptive sentence, which was between 41-57 months. She said this harsher sentence was justified because he endangered his partner, a bicyclist and other residents in the area when he shot Ruszczyk Damond out of his squad car window.

Noor, 36, in 2019 was convicted of third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter in the fatal shooting of Ruszczyk Damond on July 15, 2017, marking the first time in state history that a police officer was convicted of murder in connection with an on-duty incident.

The murder of Justine Damond was the first case I thought of.

Now and then, I post about her case here in a comparison with these other Minnesota cases:

In 2016, Philando Castile was shot to death in his car by an officer after Castile told him he had a license to carry. That officer was found not guilty, and he ended up receiving back pay.

In 2017, Damond was shot to death when she went out to talk to the police after calling 911. That officer refused to talk, and he was put on paid leave for months. At first, his sentence was 12.5 years in prison, but later it was reduced to 5 years, and he served only 3 years.

In 2020, Chauvin and three other cops didn’t shoot Floyd, but they all went to prison.

Now, in 2025, the people who ignored the case of Damond are talking about Good.

Minneapolis has a growing number of Somali-American police officers; their presence has also sparked debate and scrutiny, especially after a video showed officers speaking only Somali, raising concerns about impartiality versus cultural outreach, amidst broader community tensions and past controversies like the fatal shooting by Somali officer Mohamed Noor.

The large Somali community in Minnesota actively supports their officers, with groups like SAPA (Somali American Police Association) mentoring officers and fostering trust, though challenges remain in balancing specific cultural service with broader public duty.

Key Aspects of Somali Police in Minneapolis——Community Integration:

<><>Officers are often seen as vital for building trust and helping with language barriers within the large Somali diaspora in the Twin Cities.
<><>The Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) actively recruits Somali-Americans, with the first Somali-American woman officer hired in 2024, notes Yahoo News.
<><>A recent video of officers speaking only Somali, reportedly pledging service to Somali residents, renewed debate on whether such actions create perceptions of favoritism or divided loyalties, according to Yahoo News.
<><>The case of Mohamed Noor, a Somali officer involved in a high-profile shooting, highlighted complexities and initial celebration by the Somali community, notes VOA News.

The “Somali American Police Association (SAPA)” mentors officers and works to bridge gaps between the community and law enforcement, says American Experiment. Somali police officers in Minneapolis represent a point of ongoing discussion about cultural identity, public duty, and effective integration.

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