MINNEAPOLIS -- The family of the woman fatally shot by a Minneapolis police officer last summer after she called 911 to report a possible sexual assault is suing the officer, his partner and the city.

A lawsuit filed Monday in U.S. District Court alleges Justine Ruszczyk Damond’s civil rights were violated when she was fatally shot on July 15, 2017, by officer Mohamed Noor. In their lawsuit, Damond's family claims Noor was inexperienced and not fit for duty.

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The lawsuit also claims Noor and his partner - officer Matthew Harrity - tried to cover up facts surrounding the shooting by not activating their body cameras.

“Had they done so, there would be video and audio recording of the fatal shooting of Justine, and Harrity and Noor would not be free to concoct a story in a vain attempt to insulate Noor from civil and criminal liability,” according to the lawsuit, which was filed by Damond’s father, John Ruszczyk.

Minneapolis City Attorney Susan Segal issued the following statement on the city's behalf in response to the suit.

“The loss of a life, the loss of Justine Ruszczyk, is a tragedy. We are reviewing the civil lawsuit and will be responding to it. Meanwhile, serious criminal charges are currently pending against Mohamed Noor, and it's critically important that the criminal case be allowed to proceed through trial without interference," the statement read.

Noor faces third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter criminal charges in connection to her death. Minneapolis fired Noor after charges were filed in March.

Prosecutors say Noor was in a squad car’s passenger seat when he shot Damond through the driver’s side window after she approached the vehicle in an alley near her southwest Minneapolis home. Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman said there’s no evidence Noor encountered a threat justifying the use of deadly force.

Harrity, who was driving the vehicle, has said he was “startled by a loud sound” as they drove down the alley in search of a suspect with their squad lights off.

The lawsuit, which seeks monetary damages, also claims that the Minneapolis Police Department failed to discipline the two officers for not using their body cameras. It further claims that a change in screening job candidate allowed for unqualified officers to be hired.

Noor's attorneys filed documents indicating he will plead not guilty and likely will use self-defense and reasonable force defenses.

Ruszczyk said in a statement that his daughter’s death was “violent, unnecessary, and unconstitutional.”

The statement continued: "We want the Minneapolis police culture to be reformed in such a way and to the extent necessary to stop such senseless acts from happening again and again."

At a press conference Monday, attorney Robert Bennett said “it’s a very strong case."

Bennett said dozens of officers have not cooperated with investigators.

"We have evidence of the blue wall of silence," he said.

Bennett previously represented the family of Philando Castile, who reached a $3 million settlement last year with the city of St. Anthony. Castile was fatally shot by a St. Anthony police officer during a traffic stop in Falcon Heights on July 6, 2016.

Damond's death sparked protests and led to a police department shake-up, including the resignation of Chief Janee Harteau.