By: Jarrod Horton
Staff Writer
This Tuesday, (04.20.19) former Minnesota police officer Mohamed Noor was found guilty of third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter in the shooting of Justine Ruszczyk Damond. Noor, 33 fired one shot that killed Damond, 40 after she walked up to passenger side of his squad car. Noor said he fired the shot after his partner reaction to Damond walking up to the car. “There was a threat, and my intention was to stop the threat,” Noor said.
There was no video or audio in the shooting of Justine Ruszczyk Damond. This is the first time that a Minnesota police officer has got convicted of a crime in an on-duty shooting. The conviction comes after almost three years after the killing of Philando Castile in 2016. Castile was shot seven times after he was pulled over by police in St. Anthony Minnesota. Although the incident was recorded on Facebook live and shared around the country, the officer was acquitted on all charges. The difference between the number of shots shows the different mentality in the police when dealing with various people. The evidence and results of each act show the mentality of the judge and jury who decides the fate of the police officers who commit these crimes.
It is tragic anytime a life is taken, no matter the race of the person. However, do you believe the justice afforded to the family of Justine Ruszczyk Damond if she was a Black man and not a White woman? I think not, but how do you feel? Leave your comments below.