Don Damond Now: 5 Shocking Truths About Justine Damond's Fiancé And His Life After Tragedy
The search for "Justine Dumond fiance" overwhelmingly directs to the life and story of Don Damond, the fiancé of the late Justine Damond (née Ruszczyk), who was tragically killed in a police shooting in Minneapolis in 2017. While the name is often misspelled, the public's enduring curiosity centers on the man whose life was irrevocably altered just weeks before his wedding. As of December 2025, Don Damond has moved from the intense global spotlight of a civil rights case to a quieter, yet deeply committed, life focused on personal healing, professional leadership, and a profound spiritual transformation.
This article delves into the most recent and significant details about Don Damond's life, career, and philosophical journey since the events that made him a central figure in the national conversation on police accountability. We explore his professional trajectory, his private life following the tragedy, and the unexpected spiritual path he has embraced to process unimaginable loss.
The Complete Profile: Don Damond Biography
Don Damond’s life before the tragedy was marked by professional success in the casino operations industry and a deep, loving relationship with his Australian fiancée, Justine Ruszczyk.
- Full Name: Don Damond
- Partnership with Justine: Engaged to Justine Ruszczyk (who was planning to take the name Damond upon marriage). They were due to be married in Hawaii just four weeks after her death.
- Date of Birth: Information not publicly disclosed, but he is a long-time resident of Minneapolis, Minnesota.
- Prior Profession: He worked for the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, where he was a key figure in running their casino resort operations for 29 years.
- Current Profession (as of 2025): Vice President of Casino Operations at Ameristar Casino Resort Spa Black Hawk.
- Residence: Continues to reside in the Minneapolis area, though he has spoken about the difficulty of staying in the home he shared with Justine.
- Advocacy Role: A quiet but consistent advocate for police accountability and reform following the successful wrongful death lawsuit against the City of Minneapolis.
- Spiritual Path: Has publicly discussed a journey of spiritual awakening, a shift to a "5D consciousness" outlook, and a focus on conscious living and healing.
The Lasting Impact of the 2017 Tragedy and Legal Aftermath
The night of July 15, 2017, changed Don Damond’s life forever. Justine Ruszczyk Damond, a spiritual healer and yoga instructor, called 911 after hearing what she believed was a sexual assault happening in the alley behind their home in the Fulton neighborhood of Minneapolis.
When police officers Mohamed Noor and Matthew Harrity arrived, Justine approached the driver's side of their squad car. Officer Noor, sitting in the passenger seat, fired his weapon across his partner and fatally shot Justine.
The tragedy immediately became an international incident, drawing attention from Australia—Justine’s home country—and sparking intense debate over police training, body camera usage, and use of force protocols in the United States. Don Damond was thrust into the public eye as the grieving fiancé, demanding answers and justice for the woman he was about to marry.
The Landmark Civil Settlement
In 2019, the City of Minneapolis agreed to a massive $20 million settlement with the Damond family to resolve the wrongful death lawsuit. This was one of the largest police misconduct settlements in the city's history at the time, significantly overshadowing previous settlements.
For Don Damond, the settlement was less about the money and more about accountability and the hope for systemic change within the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) and other police forces across the nation. He expressed that no amount of money could replace the life that was stolen.
The case also saw Officer Mohamed Noor convicted of third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter, a rare instance of a police officer being held criminally accountable for an on-duty shooting.
Don Damond's Life and Spiritual Journey in 2025
While the initial media frenzy subsided years ago, Don Damond’s journey of healing and transformation represents the most current and compelling aspect of his story. His life today is a testament to finding purpose and peace after an unimaginable trauma.
A New Professional Chapter
After a long career with the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, Don Damond has transitioned into a new leadership role. As of 2025, he serves as the Vice President of Casino Operations at Ameristar Casino Resort Spa Black Hawk.
This move demonstrates his commitment to his long-standing career path while navigating life in the wake of his loss. His professional stability provides a foundation as he continues his personal journey.
Embracing Conscious Living and "5D Truth"
Perhaps the most unique and recent revelation about Don Damond is his deep dive into spirituality and conscious living. He has spoken publicly about how the tragedy forced a profound spiritual awakening, leading him to explore concepts often referred to as "5D Truth" or "5D Consciousness."
This philosophical shift involves moving beyond the pain and trauma of the physical, three-dimensional world (3D) to a higher state of awareness, characterized by love, unity, and non-judgment.
His journey has involved:
- Energy Healing: Exploring various forms of spiritual and energy work to process grief and trauma.
- Conscious Communication: Focusing on mindful interaction and expressing his experience to help others.
- Finding Purpose: Using his platform not just for police reform advocacy, but for sharing a message of hope and transformation after loss.
Continuing the Fight for Police Accountability
Despite his spiritual focus, Don Damond has not abandoned his commitment to reform. He has continued to use his voice to advocate for meaningful changes in law enforcement, recognizing that Justine’s death was a catalyst for a larger movement.
In the years following the tragedy, and particularly in the wake of the George Floyd killing in 2020, Don Damond spoke out, drawing parallels between the two events and expressing frustration over the slow pace of change within the MPD.
His advocacy centers on several key areas:
- Training and De-escalation: Highlighting the need for better training to prevent officers from escalating situations unnecessarily.
- Body Camera Policy: Advocating for strict adherence to policies requiring officers to have their body cameras recording during all public interactions.
- Mental Health Support: Emphasizing the emotional and psychological toll such events take on the victims' families, a crucial entity often overlooked in the reform debate.
Don Damond’s continued presence in the conversation, even if less frequent, ensures that Justine Damond’s legacy is tied not just to a tragic event, but to a persistent demand for civil rights and justice.
What Don Damond Means to the Community
Don Damond represents a figure of resilience for many in the Minneapolis community and beyond. His journey from an ordinary man preparing for marriage to a reluctant public figure demanding justice, and now to a man seeking spiritual peace, is a powerful narrative of coping with trauma.
His efforts to channel his profound grief into a positive, conscious outlook, while still holding institutions accountable, offer a unique perspective on healing. For those searching for "Justine Dumond fiance," the true story of Don Damond is a deeply human one—a story of love, loss, and the long, difficult road to finding a new sense of purpose in the aftermath of a public tragedy.
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