Family of Justine Damond, shot dead by police in the US, break down at Sydney vigil

THE family of slain Australian woman Justine Damond, shot dead by police in the US, have broken down in tears at an early morning vigil on Sydney’s northern beaches.

• Cop’s partner shocked by Justine Damond shooting

THE family of slain Australian woman Justine Damond, shot dead by police in the US, have broken down in tears at an early morning vigil on Sydney’s northern beaches.

A crowd of around 200 people including her distraught father John Ruszczyk, brother Jason and sister-in-law Katarina came together in silence as the sun rose over the headland at Freshwater Beach.

Justine Damond’s parents and brother console each other at a vigil in Freshwater this morning. Picture: John Grainger

Children light candles at a vigil for Justine Damond. Picture: John Grainger

Family and friends join John Ruszczyk and family at a sunrise vigil on Freshwater Beach. Picture: John Grainger

Candles arranged in the shape of a heart sat in the middle of the group, many of whom brought blankets and yoga mats to the beach.

A friend of the spiritual healer, Matt Omo, played a gong and a didgeridoo for the ceremony, which mourners were asked to arrive at and leave in silence.

Justine Damond’s brother Jason Ruszczyk and his partner Katarina lay a tribute at the vigil for the slain Australian woman. Picture: John Grainger

Damond’s brother Jason Ruszczyk and sister-in-law Katarina led a procession down to the edge of the water, where they threw flowers of Damond’s favourite colour, pink, into the ocean.

Jason broke into tears as he left his tribute, comforted by his partner.

Shortly before the vigil, Ms Damond’s family released a brief statement.

The crowd came and left in silence as they paid their respects. Picture: John Grainger

John Ruszczyk and his wife at Freshwater Beach for the vigil. Picture: John Grainger

“We are here to come together as a community around our beautiful Justine, to honour her life, share our love and mourn her death,” the statement read.

The 41-year-old was fatally shot in the stomach by a police officer in Minneapolis on Saturday night.

Jason’s co-workers from the Northern Beaches Council and former Warringah mayor Michael Regan attended the beach vigil as a show of support for their colleague.

Justine Damond was shot dead by a cop in the US after calling 911. Picture: Stephen Govel

Northern Beaches Council chief executive officer Mark Ferguson released a statement which said: “Like everyone else the northern beaches community is shocked and saddened at the loss of Justine in such tragic circumstances.

“Some of our staff have been friends and school mates of Justine, and many here are friends and colleagues of her brother Jason.

“Our heartfelt condolences are with her family and all those close to her.”

Ms Damond, a life coach raised in Sydney but who had moved to the US, had called 911 to report a possible assault.

It is believed she was shot by police officer Mohamed Noor as she approached his police vehicle dressed in her pyjamas.

Late yesterday, new details emerged of the moment Ms Ruszczyk was shot.

Noor’s partner, Matthew Harrity — who was behind the wheel of the police cruiser when Mr Noor shot Ms Ruszczyk through the driver’s side window — told investigators he was “stunned” when he realised what had happened.

Police officer Mohamed Noor who fatally shot Justine Damond. Pic: City of Minneapolis via AP

The Minnesota Department of Public Safety said in a statement Mr Harrity said he was “startled by a loud sound” as they approached the alleyway behind West 51st Street.

Mr Harrity told investigators the car’s lights were off when they entered the alleyway near Ms Damond’s home.

“As they reached West 51st Street, Officer Harrity indicated that he was startled by a loud sound near the squad car. Immediately afterwards Damond approached the driver’s side window of the squad car.

Nancy Coune, administrator of the Lake Harriet Spiritual Community centre, places flowers and signs memorialising Justine Damond at a makeshift memorial in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Pic: AFP Photo / Stephen Maturen

“Harrity indicated that Officer Noor discharged his weapon, striking Ruszczyk (Justine Damond) through the open driver’s side window.”

Mr Harrity told investigators he had seen a man, aged 18 to 25, on a bicycle immediately before the shooting. Harrity said the man stopped at the scene and watched on as officers provided Ms Damond (Ruszczyk) with medical assistance.

Police are searching for this person, and any other witnesses to the incident

Mayor Betsy Hodges and Assistant Police Chief Medaria Arradondo address the latest developments in the death of Justine Damond in Minneapolis. Pic: Richard Tsong-Taatarii/Star Tribune via AP

Mr Noor had “declined to be interviewed” by the BCA.

US-born Michael Shafran, who met Justine at an entrepreneurs meet up group about two years ago in Sydney, described his friend as “a happy, loving person that people were just drawn to”.

“She was such a funny, engaging, very intelligent, warm person.”

Kat Kinnie and Justine Ruszczyk Damond posted to a tribute page for Justine. Source: Facebook

He said the group caught up a year ago when she was back in Sydney.

“She met Don, she was really happy, she was always quite happy anyway,” he said.

‘She was the kind of person you just look at her and think, she had a charmed life and she had made it that way … you just liked being around her.”

Friends and family lay pink roses for Justine Damond. Picture: John Grainger

Originally published as Family of Justine Damond, shot dead by police in the US, break down at Sydney vigil