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A 40-year-old Australian woman who has now been identified as former Sydney-resident Justine Ruszczyk (Damond) has passed away after being shot by police in the US.
According to Minneapolis police the woman was killed by police in south Minneapolis on Saturday night after an officer-involved shooting took place.
Two officers responded to an emergency call about a possible assault in the alley off of West 51st Street between Washburn and Xerxes avenues around 11.30pm, according to a statement released Sunday by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.
“At one point one officer fired their weapon, fatally striking a woman,” the BCA said.
The Australian has not yet been identified as police are currently waiting on confirmation from relatives overseas.
Her partner was Don Damond. His son Zach Damond took to Facebook to make the sad announcement.
Damond stated that he“heard noise in the alley and called the police”.
“She was out on 51st Street and she was shot,” Zach said.
Mr Damond said the woman was “passionate” and his “best friend”.
“Basically my mum was shot for reasons I don’t know,” Mr Damond said in a video posted on Facebook on Monday morning (AEST).
“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.”
Watch the full video below.
While the incident took place, the deaceased woman’s fiancé Mr Damond, 50, was on a business trip and returned home Sunday afternoon following the tragic event.
Activist Mel Reeves, who was at the scene took to Facebook to share that a vigil to support the family would be held at 6pm Sunday on 51st Street nearby the scene of the fatal shooting.
Minneapolis Police have shared an official statement in regards to the shooting on their official Twitter page.
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