First it was Jamar Clark. Then came Philando Castile. Now there’s Justine Damond. These are three of the most controversial officer-involved shootings in recent memory, but they all share one scary truth. They’ve all happened in our own backyard.
The fact that three of the most widely recognized police shootings in recent memory have all occurred in Minnesota is troubling for a state that prides itself on being “Minnesota Nice.” What’s worse is that the latest of the three shootings may leave the most unanswered questions.
Justine Damond Shooing
Hopefully more facts will come to light, but for now, all we have are statements from eyewitnesses and officers. According to reports, Damond called police on Saturday night to report a possible sexual assault that was taking place in a nearby alley. Two officers arrived on scene in a single squad car, and the officer behind the wheel said he herd a loud bang. Moments later Damond approached the vehicle from the passenger side, and officer Mohamed Noor, who was in the passenger seat, pulled out his service weapon and shot Damond in the stomach.
“[Officer Matthew Harrity was] startled by a loud sound,” the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension said in a news release. “Immediately afterward (Damond) approached the driver’s side window of the squad. Harrity indicated that Officer Noor discharged his weapon, striking (Damond) through the open driver’s side window.
Damond, an Australian woman who was set to be married in the states next month, died as a result of the injuries she suffered.
Unanswered Questions
Officer Noor declined to be interviewed by officials at the BCA, but it’s clear that he’s going to have to answer some questions down the road. However, it seems unlikely that we’re ever going to know what happened in that alley on that night.
You might be thinking “Hey, aren’t Minneapolis police officers equipped with body cameras? Can’t we just watch the video to see what happened?”
You’d think so, but unfortunately this road is also a dead end. Although both officers were outfitted with body cameras, neither of them had the device turned on when they arrived on scene or when the fatal shot was fired.
The shooting has made front page headlines in Australia, and even the country’s Prime Minister has spoken out in wake of the shooting.
“How can a woman out in the street in her pajamas seeking assistance from police be shot like that? It is a shocking killing,” said Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbill.
The sad news is that we’ll probably never know. Hopefully the outside investigative agencies can get to the bottom of what happened and justice can be served.
