A Minneapolis police officer who shot and killed an unarmed Australian woman in July has been charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.
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Officer Mohamed Noor turned himself in on Tuesday after a warrant was issued for his arrest.
He shot Justine Ruszczyk Damond, a 40-year-old life coach, on July 15 minutes after she called 911 to report a possible sexual assault in the alley behind her home.
Damond's father, John Ruszcyzk, and her fiance, Don Damond, issued a joint statement on behalf of both families, saying they applauded the decision to charge Noor "as one step toward justice for this iniquitous act". They said they are pleased that the investigation appeared diligent and thorough, and they hope for a conviction.
"No charges can bring our Justine back. However, justice demands accountability for those responsible for recklessly killing the fellow citizens they are sworn to protect, and today's actions reflect that," the statement said.
Damond's death drew international attention, cost the police chief her job and forced major revisions to the department's policy on body cameras.
Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman planned a Tuesday afternoon news conference to discuss the charges. The criminal complaint remained sealed by midday on Tuesday, but according to the jail roster Noor was booked on a third-degree murder charge for perpetrating an eminently dangerous act while showing a "depraved mind".
The second-degree manslaughter charge alleges he acted with "culpable negligence creating unreasonable risk".
If convicted of third-degree murder, he could face a maximum of 25 years in prison, though the presumptive sentence is half of that. A judge could issue a sentence ranging from about 10-and-a-half to 15 years.
The second-degree manslaughter charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, but the presumptive sentence is four years.
The jail set bail at $US500,000 ($A650,000), according to jail records.
Noor has not spoken publicly about the case and declined to answer questions from investigators. His lawyer, Thomas Plunkett, confirmed Noor turned himself in, but had no other immediate comment.
A policeman who was with Noor at the time of the shooting, Matthew Harrity, told investigators that he was startled by a loud noise right before Damond approached the driver's side window of their police SUV. Harrity, who was driving, said Noor then fired his weapon from the passenger seat. Damond died of a gunshot wound to the abdomen.
The officers did not turn on their body cameras until after the shooting, and there was no squad camera video of the incident.
The lack of video was widely criticised, and Damond's family members were among the many people who called for changes in procedure, including how often officers are required to turn on their cameras.
Australian Associated Press
