A decision on if charges should be filed against a police officer for the shooting death of Australian-American Justine Damond is being delayed. Damond was fatally shot on July 15 by Somali-born police officer Mohamed Noor, after calling 911 to report a possible sexual assualt behind her home. Damond, 40, was a life-coach and survived by her fiancé.
The tragic incident was an unfortunate coupling of two alarming national trends: police violence and white nationalism. The shooting is said to have cost Minneapolis’ then-police chief Janee Harteau her job as she resigned amidst multiple protests and public outrage. The incident also prompted a major overhaul of the police department’s body camera policy.
As we previously reported, Minneapolis police recently removed a white nationalist memorial dedicated to Damond.
And now, a Minnesota prosecutor has announced that he will need more time to decide whether or not to file charges against Officer Noor. Previously, Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman had promised a decision by the end of the year, but that deadline seems to have been suspended, as Freeman’s office was “getting more information and evidence, and additional investigation must be completed.” Freeman also said in statement, “The investigation and review of the case must not be rushed.
Freeman has not given a new deadline, but he says he has been in touch with Damond’s family regarding the delay. Officer Noor has not issued any public statement about the shooting and has declined to speak with state investigators.
