Former Minneapolis police officer Mohamed Noor was sentenced on Friday to 12-and-a-half years in prison for the fatal 2017 shooting of Justine Ruszczyk Damond.
Read more about the controversial shooting .
Ex-Minneapolis Officer Sentenced to 12.5 Years for 911 Caller's Shooting Death
Speaking in court before the sentence was read, Noor said that he had felt "fear" as he pulled the trigger. But when he saw Ruszczyk Damond on the ground, "I knew in an instant that I was wrong."
June 7, 2019
The July 15, 2017, shooting occurred after Ruszczyk Damond called 911 to report a possible sexual assault in an alley behind her home.
In April, Noor was convicted of third-degree murder and manslaughter. He was found not guilty of second-degree murder.
Speaking in court before the sentence was read, Noor said that he had felt "fear" as he pulled the trigger. But when he saw Ruszczyk Damond on the ground, "I knew in an instant that I was wrong," reports ABC News .
"I caused this tragedy and it is my burden," he said. "I wish though that I could relieve that burden others feel from the loss that I caused. I cannot and that is a troubling reality for me. I will think about Ms. Ruszczyk and her family forever. The only thing I can do is try to live my life in a good way going forward."
Noor, a two-year veteran at the time of the shooting, had pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.
Dozens of letters in support for Noor were filed by the defense.
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