County attorney's response to appeals court decision of Officer Noor conviction

The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office agrees with the Minnesota Court of Appeals’ decision today affirming the conviction of former Minneapolis Police Officer Mohamed Noor in the shooting death of Justine Damond Ruszczyk. After reviewing the evidence from the investigation, we concluded that a third-degree murder charge was one of several appropriate charges given the facts of this case and for holding police officers accountable when their use of deadly force is unlawful and excessive.

Successful prosecutions of police officers’ unlawful use of deadly force are rare in the United State. The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office charged this case because of Officer Noor’s outrageous conduct. We were criticized for bringing that charge. But our prosecutors did remarkable work and the jury agreed and found him guilty. Now the Minnesota Court of Appeals has supported our legal theory as well.