A former Minneapolis, MN police officer was found guilty of murder on Tuesday for shooting a woman who had called 911 to report a possible rape behind her home, reports NBC News.
The jury convicted Mohamed Noor of third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter for the killing of Justine Ruszczyk Damond, a dual citizen of the United States and Australia, on July 15, 2017.
Noor, who was fired from the Minneapolis Police Department after being charged, now faces a maximum of 12 1/2 years behind bars for third-degree murder.
The former officer was found not guilty of second-degree murder.
Noor took the stand in his own defense last week, telling jurors he believed Damond was armed and was within point-blank range of his partner, Matthew Harrity, when he fired his weapon.
Noor and his partner drove into Damond's south Minneapolis neighborhood when, the driver Harrity testified, he thought he heard a thump on the hood of their car.
Noor testified he saw a woman — who turned out to be Damond — with her arms outside Harrity's window and then fired, believing he was saving his partner's life.