Today we are learning some new information regarding what happened moments after Mohamad Noor fatally shot Justine Damond. Officer Jesse Lopez was one of the first officers to arrive on the scene after the shooting. His body cam video reveals that another Minneapolis police officer addressed Mohamad Noor as “kiddo” and advised him against talking to anyone about the horrific incident unless absolutely necessary.
It was revealed Thursday that the body cam clip, among other video and audio evidence, was used by prosecutors to convict Noor in the shooting death of Justine.
“You alright kiddo? You alright?” Lopez asks Noor, who appears to be sweating profusely. “Just keep to yourself, just keep your mouth shut until you have to say anything to anybody.”1
This footage played a “tremendous”1 role in helping Damond family attorney Bob Bennett, who negotiated a $20 million dollar settlement, argue his case.
“The blue wall of silence is alive and well,” he said. “Who were they protecting and serving?”1
Damond had called the police the night of her death to report hearing a possible rape in the alley behind her home in South Minneapolis. In April, a jury convicted Noor on second and third-degree manslaughter charges in the killing of Damond.
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Transcripts of Justine’s 911 call have been previously released, but for the first time Thursday, audio of her frightened call were made public.
“Hi. I can hear someone out back and I, I’m not sure if she’s having sex or being raped,” she tells the operator. “And I think she just yelled out ‘help,’ but it’s difficult. The sound has been going on for a little while but I don’t think, I don’t think she’s enjoying it.”1
Less than 10 minutes after her first call, Damond, who was in her pajamas, called authorities again and was told officers were on the way. As she approached the police car she was shot by Noor, who was sitting in the passenger seat.
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Noor’s partner, Matthew Harrity, can be seen recounting the events leading up to the shooting in body cam footage from Sergeant Shannon Barnette, the incident commander the night of the shooting.
Harrity can be heard saying “Sarge, Sarge,” “We had the call over here, someone was screaming in the back, we pulled up here, we were about ready to clear and go to another call she just came up out of nowhere on the side of the thing and we both got spooked. I had my gun out, I didn’t fire and then Noor pulled out and fired.”1
Not released publicly were five additional body cam videos showing Justine Damond taking her last breaths while responders tried to save her.
Noor is scheduled to be sentenced on June 7. He faces up to 15 years behind bars. He is currently being held at Minnesota’s maximum security prison.
Our thoughts continue to be with Justine Damond’s family and loved ones.
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