http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4709716/Justine-Damond-s-death-cyclist-witness.html
Investigators have launched a search for a cyclist who rode past police officers as they tried to resuscitate Australian Justine Damond after she was shot dead on Saturday night.
Minneapolis police officers Matthew Harrity and Mohamed Noor tried to save 40-year-old Sydney woman after Noor shot her through the driver's side door of a police car.
Ms Damond, whose maiden name was Ruszczyk, had called police to an alley behind her home to investigate a possible sexual assault. She was shot dead by a policeman soon after and was wearing her pyjamas.
The policemen both had their bodycams switched off at the time, but the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension believes a cyclist riding past may have information that can help the investigation.
Officer Harrity told investigators that he and Officer Noor saw an 18-25 year old white male who was bicycling eastbound on West 51st Street immediately before the shooting.
The man is believed to have stopped at the scene and watched as the policemen tried to save Ms Damond's life.
BCA agents would like to speak with this person, and anyone else who may have witnessed the incident.
It is still not known why Officer Noor shot the soon-to-be-bride from his passenger seat of the squad car, through the drivers side door.
A source with knowledge of Minneapolis law enforcement, who asked not to be identified, told AAP on Tuesday it 'would be good common sense to investigate' the fireworks link.
The sound of fireworks may have startled Officer Mohamed Noor, the policeman who fired the fatal bullet to the 40-year-old spiritual healer's abdomen.
The fireworks link came as it was revealed Noor's partner was 'stunned' when the rookie cop opened fire through the squad-car door at Damond, who had approached the car, dressed in pyjamas.
Officer Matthew Harrity, who was in the driver's seat, was speaking to Ms Damond after she called 911 to report a sexual assault occurring near her home, when Noor reached across him and shot her.
A police source told KARE11 that Harrity was 'left stunned' by officer Mohamed Noor's actions.
Harrity was interviewing Damond, when Noor reportedly reached across him and shot her (cops at the scene after the shooting)
A reference to fireworks can be heard during the police radio conversations between Officer Noor, Officer Matthew Harrity, and the police dispatcher co-ordinating the emergency call and other officers rushing to scene.
At one point the dispatcher asks for a precinct Sergeant to acknowledge a report of 'two shots heard from the east'.
'We heard those sounds from the station,' an officer responds.
'Those are probably aerial fireworks.'
The independent Minnesota Department of Public Safety Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, not the Minneapolis Police Department, is investigating the shooting and revealed on Wednesday that Noor has refused to be interviewed.
'Officer Noor has declined to be interviewed by BCA agents at this time. Officer Noor's attorney did not provide clarification on when, if ever, an interview would be possible,' the BCA said in a press release on its website on Tuesday night (Wednesday morning in Australia).
Although there are still many unanswered questions, the BCA revealed an outline of the incident.
The BCA said Officer Harrity told authorities the men had heard a 'loud sound' near the squad car as they approached the scene without their emergency lights on.
Immediately after Ms Damond approached his driver's side.
'Harrity indicated that Officer Noor discharged his weapon, striking Ruszczyk through the open driver's side window,' authorities said.
The BCA said they there is no video or audio footage of the incident.
Noor and Harrity have been placed on administrative leave.
Noor, 31, has offered his 'condolences' but demanded everyone respect his privacy after opening fire on the 40-year-old yoga instructor. He has hired an attorney.
Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges said she wished Noor would consent to an interview.
'We can't compel him by law, but I wish that he would make that statement. There are big questions left that we still have and that we hope to have answered soon.
'Why did Officer Noor draw and fire his gun? What happened from the time the officers arrived on the scene to when she was pronounced dead? Why don't we have footage from body cameras? Why were they not activated? We all want answers to those questions.'
Just before 7am after a period of meditation and many tears, close friend 'The Gong Guru' Matt Omo performed a didgeridoo piece to honour the beloved spiritual healer and life coach (pictured)
The BCA called for a male witness, aged between 18 and 25, who was cycling past the scene after the shooting and watched as the two police officers tried to resuscitate Ms Damond.
The transcript of Ms Damond's 911 call for help is expected to be released soon, Minnesota city attorney Susan Segal said during a press conference.
Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman told 9News on Wednesday Noor could face a murder charge because Ms Damond's death has been ruled a homicide.
A charge of second-degree manslaughter is more likely, he said.
'In Minnesota normally it's a charge of second degree manslaughter,' Mr Freeman said.
'[But] it's way too premature for us to make that call yet.'
Mr Freeman, who previously argued that the police officer's body cameras should have been turned on at the time, said his office has yet to speak to the officers.
When asked if Noor and his partner were cooperating with authorities, Mr Freeman answered 'no and yes.'
'Well, we are hoping that in the very near future they will talk. But until they do, we don't know. An independent investigation is currently underway to determine how and why Justine was killed,' he said.
Ms Damond's heartbroken family gathered on Sydney's northern beaches on Wednesday morning for a silent vigil in her honour, and Australia's Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull demanded answers on how she was killed.
'It is inexplicable. Our hearts go out to her family,' he told 9News on Wednesday.
'How can a woman out in the street in her pyjamas seeking assistance from the police be shot like that? It is a shocking killing.'
The crowd began to gather around 6am on Wednesday morning
Hundreds of mourners, including Justine's dad John and his wife Maryan Herffernan, quietly lit candles on the shore of Freshwater Beach, in New South Wales, as the sun began to rise on Wednesday.
Just before 7am after a period of meditation and many tears, close friend 'The Gong Guru' Matt Omo performed a didgeridoo piece to honour the beloved spiritual healer and life coach, lamenting her 'generosity of heart and spirit' that was 'shared with so many.'
As the morning sun dipped above the horizon, people lowered flowers - mostly pink, Justine's favourite colour - into the ocean.
A man played the violin as pink roses scattered the shoreline, with many staying to watch the waves lap at the beach - not far from Justine's family home where she was born and raised.
As mourners began to leave the beach, Mr Ruszczyk and his wife Maryan, remained by the water, embracing each other and sobbing.
The vigil, which was explicitly billed as a silent event, described Ms Damond as an 'extraordinarily kind, funny, smart and loving woman.
Meanwhile, the Mayor of Minneapolis Betsy Hodges is demanding to know why neither officer had their bodycam turned on at the time, which she called a 'key question' for investigators.
Autopsy results by the Hennepin County Medical Examiner revealed Damond died from a gunshot wound to the abdomen and classified her death as a homicide.
The chilling moments directly after she was killed were captured on an audio exchange between dispatch and the officers involved, on the website Minnesota PoliceClips.
The call begins just before 11.28pm on Saturday night, when an officer can be heard saying there is a 'female screaming behind the building'.
The officer says they are performing CPR after 'shots fired and one down' and call for other units, including medical, to come to 'Code 3, Washburn and 53rd St'.
STATEMENT FROM POLICE OFFICER MOHAMED NOOR
'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.
'He came to the United States at a young age and is thankful to have had so many opportunities. He takes these events very seriously because, for him, being a police officer is a calling. He joined the police force to serve the community and to protect the people he serves. Officer Noor is a caring person with a family he loves and he empathizes with the loss others are experiencing.
'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.'
'No suspects at large,' the cop told the dispatcher after around a minute.
Mayor Hodges is asking why the officers' cameras - which could have provided clear evidence to the events that unfolded that night - were off.
'You know, I fought hard to make sure that we have body cameras, she told GMA. 'They're a very powerful tool, they're not an infallible tool, but they're an important tool in 21st century policing and I don't know why they weren't turned on.
'I don't know what happened. That's one of the key questions that we have as the investigations move forward.'
Police in Minneapolis are required to wear bodycams at all time, but they are not continually active and are manually switched on when an officer anticipates they will be needed. It is not known why the dashcam cannot be used in this case.
The decision to equip all police with bodycams came after the motorist Philando Castile was shot by an officer in 2016 in controversial circumstances.
The Mayor, who previously posted on Facebook she 'wanted to take a moment to recognize Officer Mohamed Noor, the newest Somali officer in the Minneapolis Police Department', demanded fast answers as the investigation began on Monday.
Neither of the officers switched on their body cameras.
Harrity, the squad car driver, was speaking to Damon who was stood outside the car window when Noor leaned across him and opened fire.
Noor shot multiple times, hitting Damon once in the abdomen. She died at 11.51pm from the gunshot wound, the autopsy revealed.
Harrity was reportedly 'stunned' by his partner's actions.
Both cops have been placed on administrative leave.
The investigation is being conducted by a state agency, the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, rather than internally by Minneapolis police.
There were no weapons recovered from the scene of the shooting.......................
