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Killing of Justine Damond

SOLVED2017Fulton neighborhood alley, Minneapolis, Minnesota3 SOURCESUPDATED JUL 2026

Documents violence · ongoing investigation — written to inform, not to shock.

Illustrative

On the night of July 15, 2017, Justine Damond (née Ruszczyk), a 40-year-old dual Australian-American citizen living in Minneapolis, called 911 twice to report that she believed she heard a woman being sexually assaulted in the alley behind her home. Officers Mohamed Noor and Matthew Harrity responded, found no signs of a disturbance, and marked the scene as safe. As they prepared to leave, Damond approached the driver's-side window of their squad car. Harrity, startled by a noise, drew his weapon but did not fire; Noor fired once through the open window, fatally striking Damond in the abdomen. She died approximately 20 minutes later. Neither officer had activated his body camera, and no audio or video recorded the shooting itself.

The shooting occurred weeks after the high-profile acquittal in the 2016 police killing of Philando Castile in the same metropolitan area, intensifying existing tensions over policing in Minneapolis. It attracted national and international press attention, including strong reaction in Australia, where Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull publicly demanded answers on behalf of Damond's family. Numerous vigils, marches, and protests followed in Minneapolis, and Minneapolis Police Chief Janeé Harteau resigned under public pressure less than a week after the killing.

An investigation led to Noor being charged in March 2018 with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter; charges were later upgraded to include second-degree intentional murder. Noor turned himself in, resigned from the police department, and was released on bail. At trial in 2019, prosecutors argued Noor's use of force was unreasonable, presenting evidence that Damond's fingerprints were not found on the police vehicle. Noor claimed self-defense, testifying that he believed his partner feared for his life. On April 30, 2019, a jury convicted Noor of third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter, but acquitted him of intentional second-degree murder. He was sentenced to 12.5 years in prison in June 2019.

Noor appealed, and in September 2021 the Minnesota Supreme Court overturned his third-degree murder conviction, finding the state had not proven the "depraved mind" element required for that charge. He was resentenced to 57 months and released from custody on June 27, 2022, with supervised release to continue until January 2024.

Separately, Damond's family brought a civil lawsuit against the City of Minneapolis alleging violation of her civil rights. The city settled the suit for $20 million in May 2019, at the time the largest such settlement in Minneapolis history, later surpassed by the 2021 settlement in the case of George Floyd. The killing prompted policy changes, including a July 2017 requirement that Minneapolis officers activate body cameras during all calls and traffic stops.

Key facts

Victims
Justine Damond
Date
2017
Location
Fulton neighborhood alley, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Case status
solved

Case timeline

  1. 2017-07-15

    Justine Damond calls 911 twice to report a possible assault; she is fatally shot by MPD officer Mohamed Noor shortly after.

  2. 2017-07-16

    Several hundred people attend a vigil at the site of Damond's death.

  3. 2017-07-19

    Minneapolis Police Chief Janeé Harteau resigns amid public criticism.

  4. 2017-07-20

    Hundreds march to Beard's Plaisance Park in Damond's memory and to demand police accountability.

  5. 2017-07-21

    Protesters interrupt a press conference by Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges demanding her resignation.

  6. 2017-07-23

    Acting police chief Medaria Arradondo announces body cameras will be required during all calls and traffic stops.

  7. 2017-08-11

    Memorial service for Damond held at Lake Harriet, attended by about 1,000 mourners including Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton.

  8. 2018-02

    A grand jury is convened to investigate Damond's death.

  9. 2018-03-20

    Noor is charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter, turns himself in, and resigns from the police department.

  10. 2019-04-30

    Jury convicts Noor of third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter; acquits him of intentional second-degree murder.

  11. 2019-05

    City of Minneapolis settles civil lawsuit with Damond's family for $20 million.

  12. 2019-06-07

    Noor is sentenced to 12.5 years in prison.

  13. 2021-02-01

    Minnesota Court of Appeals affirms Noor's third-degree murder conviction.

  14. 2021-09-15

    Minnesota Supreme Court reverses Noor's third-degree murder conviction.

  15. 2021-10

    Trial court resentences Noor to 57 months in prison on remand.

  16. 2022-06-27

    Noor is released from custody after serving two-thirds of his sentence; remainder to be served on supervised release.

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People

  • Mohamed Noor

    CONVICTED

    Minneapolis police officer convicted of third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter for fatally shooting Damond; third-degree murder conviction later overturned on appeal, resentenced on manslaughter conviction

    citation on file

  • Justine Damond

    VICTIM

    40-year-old Australian-American woman fatally shot by police after calling 911 to report a possible assault

    citation on file

Places

Fulton neighborhood alley, Minneapolis, Minnesota

44.9107, -93.3182

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Common questions

What happened to the victim?
Justine Damond, a 40-year-old Australian-American woman, was fatally shot by Minneapolis police officer Mohamed Noor in July 2017 after she called 911 to report a possible assault near her home. Noor was later convicted of third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter; the murder conviction was later overturned on appeal, and he was resentenced to a shorter term.
Where did the killing happen?
Fulton neighborhood alley, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Who was convicted?
Mohamed Noor (Minneapolis police officer convicted of third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter for fatally shooting Damond; third-degree murder conviction later overturned on appeal, resentenced on manslaughter conviction).
What is the current status of the case?
Status: solved.

Sources

  1. Killing of Justine Damondwikipedia · Wikipedia · 2026-07-07
  2. Justine Damond's tragic loss in US prompts Malcolm Turnbull to demand answersnews · The Sydney Morning Herald · 2026-07-07
  3. Minneapolis Police Chief Resigns Days After Officer Fatally Shot a Womannews · The New York Times · 2026-07-07
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