Father speaks of Justine Ruszczyk’s legacy on two year anniversary of her murder
The father of Justine Ruszczyk has spoken of the heartbreak his family has endured since her murder two years ago. On the anniversary of her death he told of his anger at her killer and how he hopes for some good to come out of the terrible tragedy.
- Freshwater Beach sunrise memorial for Justine Ruszczyk
- Dad reveals day he found out his daughter had been killed
The father of a Sydney woman who was shot and killed by a Minneapolis police officer has told how his daughter’s greatest legacy will be preventing further gun deaths in the US.
John Ruszczyk joined friends and family at Freshwater Beach on Monday morning for a sunrise memorial to mark the second anniversary of Justine Ruszczyk’s murder.
Speaking afterwards he revealed he is donating US$2 million to the Minneapolis Foundation which works to improve police/community relations and reduce gun crime in the city.
The 40-year-old was gunned down in her pyjamas by police officer Mohamed Noor after she called 911 to report a suspected sexual assault near her home back in 2017.
She had moved to Minneapolis with her soon-to-be husband Don Damond and was working in the city as a life coach.
Noor, who shot her in the chest, was jailed in June this year for 12 and a half years.
He fired on the unarmed and barefoot Ms Ruszczyk claiming he “feared for his life”.
“I am angry,” Mr Ruszczyk said when asked about his feelings now towards Noor. “I am angry for him pulling the Goddamn trigger.”
He added: “We didn’t know until he took the stand that he had actually seen Justine (he reserved his right to remain silent prior to the trial).
“He testified that he saw her blonde hair and he saw the T-shirt and he still pulled the trigger.
“His whole argument was that he reacted instantaneously to a threat to protect his partner.
“That’s not right. He saw her blonde hair, he saw her pink T-shirt. Nothing else, no gun, no weapon, no threat and he still pulled the trigger. So yes, I am angry.”
Speaking last year he told the Manly Daily he could not rest until he felt justice had been done.
With Noor jailed, does he now feel his family has finally got justice?
“Twelve years for 40 years doesn’t equate,” he said. “But we are satisfied.”
He added: “But we were certainly disappointed that his defence attorney thought appropriate sentencing would be two weeks a year in jail: one on her birthday and one on the anniversary of her death.
“I can’t say how insensitive and insulted we were. That they would even come up with such an idea.”
Mr Ruszczyk and his partner Maryan Heffernan travelled to Minneapolis earlier this year to sit through the entirety of Noor’s trial.
He described it as “the most intense month” of his life but said it was something he had to do.
“I can’t tell you how difficult it was being in that courtroom and listening to the testimony, seeing and hearing videos from the body worn camera. But we felt we had to be there to stand up for Justine and let people know we wouldn’t forget her.”
But amid all the heartbreak, anger and loss, Mr Ruszczyk hopes some good can come from this tragedy.
That is why he has decided to donate US$2 million from the family’s US$20 million settlement from the city of Minneapolis to a foundation attempting to reduce the scourge of gun crime in the city Justine had called home.
“We didn’t want to start our own foundation because for it to be meaningful we would have to be over there to be active participants and we just wanted to get home to Sydney.
“So with the help of our legal team we identified a group with a reputation for improving community relations with police and helping reduce gun violence.”
For more than 100 years the Minneapolis Foundation has been striving to make a difference in the city with a current focus on reducing gun crime.
“They are working with gangs and working to reduce access to guns,” he said. “But they are also working to reduce tensions between the community and police.”
He said he hoped the money will ultimately save lives, adding: “We don’t want people to be automatically pulling out a weapon because they think they are going to be shot. It is about teaching people how to de-escalate a situation.”
Before sunrise on Monday, Ms Ruszczyk’s family and friends gathered at Freshwater Beach to remember Justine.
They huddled round a fire pit and reminisced about the 40-year-old.
As youngsters toasted marshmallows on the fire, John and partner Maryan walked hand-in-hand to the water’s edge.
With the waves lapping at their feet, they looked out to the horizon in silent reflection.
Then, with the sun rising over the headland, they tossed a flower each into the surf.
“I am so proud of my daughter,” Mr Ruszczyk said.
“So many people come up to me and tell me how meaningful she was in their lives.
“She loved life so much and I just miss her every day.”
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