Shots fired ‘before threat known’

THE partner of a Minneapolis police officer who fatally shot an unarmed woman as she approached their squad car testified on Thursday that he didn’t fire his own gun because he was still trying to determine if he was in danger.

The officer agreed with a prosecutor’s assessment that it would have been “premature” to use deadly force.

Officer Matthew Harrity is a key witness in the trial of Mohamed Noor, who is charged with murder and manslaughter in the July 15, 2017, shooting death of Justine Ruszczyk Damond.

Ms Damond had placed two 911 calls that night to report a possible sexual assault in the alley behind her home. Struck in the abdomen, the 40-yearold dual citizen of the US and Australia bled to death in an incident that sparked anger and disbelief in both countries.

Prosecutors questioned Harrity on some key points, including why he didn’t fire his own weapon in the alley.

Harrity said he had his gun drawn at the time because he heard “something hit the car and heard some sort of murmur”. That’s when Noor fired.

Prosecutor Amy Sweasy seized on Harrity’s restraint, asking him about his training in the reasonable use of deadly force. Prosecutors need to prove Noor acted unreasonably when he shot Damond.

Under questioning from Sweasy, Harrity said that he would need to identify a threat and a target before firing his weapon. Harrity conceded that an officer would not point a gun unless he intended to use it, and said deadly force can be used only under reasonable circumstances.

“Use of deadly force, from your viewpoint at this point, would have been premature,” Sweasy said of the situation. “Yes, with what I had,” Harrity replied.