As Justine Damond’s family and friends try to come to terms with her tragic and senseless death, police in Minnesota have now released 911 transcripts.
Justine called the police twice after hearing a “distressed” woman in the alleyway outside her house.
When police responded to the call, Justine was fatally shot outside her home. She was wearing her pyjamas at the time.
The Mail Online reports Officer Mohamed Noor shot Justine after she “startled” him in the dark.
A friend of Noor spoke to the Mail Online on the condition of anonymity and said Noor opened fire on Justine when an unidentified figure emerged from the dark and ran towards the vehicle.
The 911 caller [Justine] had reportedly been “panicking” when she phoned to report an assault so Noor viewed the situation as tense when he arrived on the scene.
FULL 911 TRANSCRIPTS
Time: 23:27:02
Operator: 911, what’s the address of the emergency?
Caller: Hi, I’m, I can hear someone out the back and I, I’m not sure if she’s having sex or being raped.
Operator: Give me the address.
Caller: 5024 Washburn Avenue South.
Operator: Washburn Avenue South. You said it’s behind (inaudible)?
Caller: And there’s a (inaudible) out the back, yup, yup. And I think she just yelled out “help” but it’s difficult the sound has been going on for a while, but I think, I don’t think she’s enjoying it. I think it’s, I don’t know.
Operator: Okay, well I already got a call started and help on the way. Uh, you can’t see anything, you’re just hearing a female screaming then, is that what you’re saying?
Caller: Yeah. It sounds like sex noises, but it’s been going on for a while and I think she tried to say help and it sounds distressed.
Operator: Okay, I’ve already got an officer on the way. What is your name?
Caller: JUSTINE.
Operator: JUSTINE, what’s your last name?
Caller: JUSTINE.
Operator: JUSTINE.
Caller: Yeah.
Operator: And a phone number?
Caller: (redacted)
Operator: Okay, we’ve already got help on the way. If anything changes before we get there just give us a call right back, but officers should be there soon.
Caller: Thanks.
Operator: Okay, not a problem.
Time: 23:35:23
Operator: 911, what is the address of the emergency?
Caller: Hi, I just reported one, but no one’s here and was wondering if they got the address wrong.
Operator: What’s the address?
Caller: 5024 Washburn Avenue South. It supposed to be Washburn Avenue South.
Operator: Are you JUSTINE?
Caller: Yeah, (inaudible).
Operator: You’re hearing a female screaming?
Caller: Yes, along behind the house.
Operator: Yup, officers are on the way there.
Caller: Thank you.
Operator: You’re welcome, bye.
A dawn vigil was held in Justine Damond’s hometown of Freshwater Beach in Sydney yesterday to pay tribute to the meditation teacher – but her family and friends remain in the dark about why she was fatally shot by a police officer outside her US home.
Ms Damond’s father, John Ruszczyk, led the silent tribute to the 40-year-old after a US medical examiner ruled the 40-year-old’s death a homicide.
WATCH: The two police officers involved had their body cameras turned off against regulation.
“This individual died of a gunshot wound of the abdomen,” the Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office announced.
“Manner of death is homicide.”
“Officer Noor extends his condolences to the family and anyone else who has been touched by this event. He takes their loss seriously and keeps them in his daily thoughts and prayers,” a police statement read.
“The current environment for police is difficult, but Officer Noor accepts this as part of his calling. We would like to say more, and will in the future. At this time, however, there are several investigations ongoing and Officer Noor wants to respect the privacy to the family and asks the same in return during this difficult period.”
It has since emerged that Officer Noor was the subject of at least one, and possibly up to three, formal complaints before he shot Ms Damond.
Officer Noor
Justine’s fiancé Don Damond, who was away on business the night of the shooting, released a statement expressing his frustration at the lack of information received by the family.
“Our hearts are broken and we utterly devastated by the loss of Justine,” he said in a statement.
“As you know, it was Justine who called 911 on Saturday evening, reporting what she believed was an active sexual assault occurring nearby.”
“She touched so many people with her loving and generous heart. She was a teaching to so many and living a life of openness, love and kindness,” he said.
“She was so kind and so darn funny. It is difficult to fathom how to go forward without her in my life.”
Damond added they’d been given “almost no additional information from law enforcement regarding what happened after police arrived”.
“We’ve lost the dearest of people and we’re desperate for information,” he said.
Tragically, new footage of Justine three weeks before her death has been released by The Guardian.
Justine is seen rescuing some ducklings in the video. You can watch below:
