Father of woman shot by Mpls police worries investigation not done properly

MINNEAPOLIS (KMSP) - John Ruszczyk has, for the most part, managed to stay out of the public eye since his daughter was shot and killed by a Minneapolis Police officer in August.

That is, until Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman was filmed by community activists earlier this month blaming investigators for not doing their job, saying that they haven't given him enough evidence to make a charging decision in the case. He has since apologized for the comments, but hasn't walked back the content of what he said. 

Wednesday Ruszczyk held a press conference in his hometown of Sydney, Australia, decrying the investigative process and airing long-held concerns that his daughter, Justine Damond, may never find justice. 

"We are deeply concerned about the possibility that the initial investigation was not done properly and with the greatest integrity or a sense of completeness," Ruszczyk said. "[Freeman] does not say that his [recent] comments about the BCA investigation itself were unfounded, inaccurate or in any way untrue. What are we to think?"

Since the shooting, community activists and others have come forward at city meetings and press conferences to demand transparency in the investigative process. Ruszczyk, however, urges patience in the hopes that prosecutors won't rush to make a decision before the facts are in.

"We implore Mr. Freeman and the prosecutor’s office to continue to pursue a rigorous investigation and examination of evidence of the events leading up to Justine's death," he said. "We will wait patiently while this occurs, but insist that this investigation be done, and done right."