The family of an Australian woman has been left heartbroken after she was shot dead by US police in Minneapolis.
Justine Damond reportedly phoned 911 after she head a noise near her Minneapolis home, The Guardian reports.
The 40-year-old, also known as Justine Ruszczyk, was shot at around 11.30pm after two offices responded to a callout about a possible assault.
The state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension said in a statement that “at one point, an officer fired their weapon, fatally striking a woman”.
State officials revealed that the officers’ body cameras were not switched on at the time.
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 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,” Mr Damond said.
