Guilty of third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter — the jury’s verdict in the trial of former Minneapolis police officer Mohamed Noor in the fatal shooting of Justine Damond. Her father reportedly wept when the verdict was read and the father of the defendant covered his face with his hands. A third-degree murder conviction carries a sentence of up to 25 years. Noor was found not guilty of 2nd-degree murder. In a press conference after the verdict, Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman said: “this was a tragic shooting that did not have to happen and should not have happened.” Freeman said the jury got it right. He does say, however, the investigation into the shooting was rocky in the early stages on the part of Minneapolis police and the BCA and “we needed to make sure that we showed all our warts as well as all our good work, and we’re not going to let the defense suggest that this was a whitewash or that this was terrible from start to finish, because frankly, although it was a little weak in the beginning, everyone made up for it at the end.” Freeman says his relationship with the MPD has “been rebuilt” since the beginning of the investigation. Freeman answered his critics who suggest he won’t charge white cops who shoot black people, but will charge black cops who shoot white people by saying “that simply is not true, race has never been a factor in any of my decisions and never will be.” John Ruszczyk after the verdict said it’s been a painful journey from that July night in 2017 when his daughter was killed, but he said the family is “satisfied with the outcome.” Ruszczyk also had some harsh criticism for how the investigation into his daughter’s death was handled and said, “the conviction was reached despite the active resistance of a number of Minneapolis officers including the head of their union, and either active resistance or gross incompetence of the BCA, particularly at the beginning of the investigation.” Justine’s fiance Don said the case was about Justine and that she “lived to teach us about love…she lived to teach us about our own human potential she taught us to live joyfully, she taught us to laugh and she demonstrated what it means to live from the heart. she was a living example of compassion. in her life to transform humanity and her legacy is continuing that work today.” Noor is set to be sentenced on June 7th.