Justine Damond Shooting: County Attorney To Convene Grand Jury

MINNEAPOLIS, MN — Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman reportedly plans to convene a grand jury to decide whether to file charges against the police officer who fatally shot Justine Ruszczyk Damond July 15, 2017. Minneapolis police officer Mohamed Noor is on paid leave after shooting Damond, a 40-year-old spiritual teacher who was engaged to be married, after she called 911 twice to report a possible rape.

Damond was originally from Australia.

Noor, who was in the passenger seat of a squad car, shot across his partner in the driver's seat and hit Damond, according to investigators. His partner, Matthew Harrity, told authorities that he was startled by a loud noise shortly before Damond appeared at the police vehicle.

Harrity was served a subpoena Wednesday to testify before a grand jury, his attorney Fred Bruno told the Star Tribune.

"Arriving at the right decision requires the right facts and complete truth," Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said in a statement Wednesday on the decision to convene a grand jury. "No institution – including the City of Minneapolis – should stand in the way of uncovering that truth."

Bob Bennett, the lawyer who's representing Damond's family, confirmed the existence of a grand jury to Minnesota Public Radio.

"We applaud any aggressive efforts to get people to talk," he told the radio station. "It appears there has been a reluctance on the part of a number of officers to talk, and I'm happy that they are using the grand jury to compel that."

Following the death of Jamar Clark in 2015, Freeman said he would no longer allow grand juries to decide police shootings. He reaffirmed that policy in August.

Freeman's office said in a statement Wednesday that policy will continue:

It has been reported that several witnesses have been subpoenaed before a grand jury as part of the investigation into the officer-involved shooting of Justine Damond Ruszcyzk. Because grand jury proceedings are secret, we cannot comment on grand jury subpoenas or any testimony that occurs before a grand jury.

Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman will continue the office’s two-year-old policy where he makes the decision on whether or not to bring charges in officer-involved shootings. We will have no further comment.

Related:

• Woman 'Slapped' Car Before Justine Damond Shooting: Warrant
• Why Did Minneapolis Police Shoot Bride-To-Be From Australia?
• Fake Street Signs Warn Of 'Easily Startled' Twin Cities Police

Photo by Stephen Govel, used with permission