Australian woman Justine Ruszczyk Damon was fatally shot by a US police officer on Saturday, after calling 911 to investigate noises outside her house.
The country has been left confused and angry that a Sydney woman who was calling for help could be killed in her pyjamas, without explanation.
Now Justine’s heartbroken partner has spoken out, saying that both he and his son are “devastated” by their loss.
Don Damond made the statement outside his Minneapolis home where his fiancee was gunned down.
“Our hearts are broken and we utterly devastated by the loss of Justine,” the 50 year old said.
“As you know, it was Justine who called 911 on Saturday evening, reporting what she believed was an active sexual assault occurring nearby,” he continued, as reported by News.com.au.
“We’ve lost the dearest of people and we’re desperate for information,” he said, before revealing he has been given “almost no additional information from law enforcement regarding what happened after police arrived”.
“She touched so many people with her loving and generous heart. She was a teaching to so many and living a life of openness, love and kindness.”
“She was so kind and so darn funny. It is difficult to fathom how to go forward without her in my life.”
State officials revealed that the officers’ body cameras were not switched on at the time of the shooting.
AAP reports that Ms Damond was originally from Sydney and was engaged to marry her 50-year-old partner.
She had training as a veterinarian and ran meditation workshops.
Her stepson Zach Damond also posted an emotional video on Facebook in reaction to the tragic news.
“Basically my mum was shot for reasons I don’t know,” he said in a video posted on Monday morning.
“I just know she heard a sound in the alley so then she called the police and the cops showed up and she was a very passionate woman, she probably thought something bad was happening and then next thing I know they take my best friend’s life.”
