The Latest: Partner of accused cop says he feared ambush
Posted Apr 18, 2019 02:02:05 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
MINNEAPOLIS — The Latest on the trial of a former Minneapolis police officer in the fatal shooting of an unarmed woman who had called 911 (all times local):
12:50 p.m.
The partner of a former Minneapolis police officer who shot and killed an unarmed woman says he was startled by a thump on the officers’ squad car and feared a possible ambush.
Officer Matthew Harrity is a key witness at the trial of Mohamed Noor. Noor killed Justine Ruszczyk Damond with a single shot as she approached the officers’ squad car in July 2017. Damond was a dual citizen of the U.S. and Australia who had called 911 to report a possible sexual assault in the alley behind her home.
Defence attorneys have said Noor was reacting to a noise and feared an ambush when he fired his weapon.
Harrity was driving the police SUV. In his testimony Thursday, he described a glimpse of something to his left, then hearing something hitting the car and “some sort of murmur.”
He said he immediately drew his gun. Harrity said that’s when Noor fired.
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11:27 a.m.
The partner of a Minneapolis police officer who shot and killed an unarmed woman who had called 911 to report a possible rape near her home is describing the moments before the shooting.
Officer Matthew Harrity is a critical witness in the trial of Mohamed Noor. Noor killed Justine Ruszczyk Damond with a single shot as she approached the officers’ squad car in July 2017.
Harrity testified Thursday that he and Noor were rolling down the alley behind Damond’s house searching for anything related to the 911 call of a woman in trouble. Harrity testified he had pulled the hood off his gun’s holster in case he needed to draw it.
Asked why, Harrity said he considers every call a threat until it’s not.
His testimony is continuing.
The Associated Press
