Damond’s family settled for $20 million with the city of Minneapolis after Noor’s initial conviction. The case has been talked about over the past few years for its perceived racial bias because of another officer-involved shooting in Minnesota.
On July 6, 2016, Philando Castile, a 32-year-old Black man, was pulled over while driving in Falcon Heights, Minnesota. Castile was shot and killed by police officer Jeronimo Yanez in a shooting that was recorded by Castile’s wife on Facebook Live. In the video, Castile told Yanez that he had a permit to carry a weapon and Yanez shot him while he was reaching for his driver’s license and registration. Yanez was acquitted of all charges in Castile’s death and Castile’s family only received a $3 million settlement.
Minnesota’s police departments have been scrutinized heavily over the past few years especially since the death of George Floyd. On April 20, 2021, former police officer Derrick Chauvin was found guilty of all three charges — second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter in the death of George Floyd on May 25, 2020, after kneeling on his neck for more than minutes. With Noor’s murder conviction being reduced to manslaughter, Chauvin’s conviction now makes him the first Minneapolis police officer to be convicted of murder.
