Australian woman Justine Damon has been shot dead by police in the US.

Justine Damond, 40, from Sydney was killed by police in south Minneapolis on Saturday night.

Minneapolis mayor Betsy Hodges said the incident has made her “heartsick”.

Ms Damond, previously known as Justine Ruszczyk, died following an officer-involved shooting, according to Minneapolis police.

The shooting occurred on the 5100 block of Washburn Avenue South in the city’s Fulton neighbourhood.

The incident is the subject of an investigation but authorities have said the officers who responded to the 911 call did not have their body cameras turned on.

MORE: What we know about the shooting death of Justine Damond

RELATED: ‘Passionate Aussie shot for ‘reasons we don’t know’

Australian woman Justine Damond (pictured with Don Damond and Zach Damond) was killed by police in Minneapolis. Picture: FacebookSource:Supplied

Police at the scene of the shooting. Picture: Twitter/Gordon SeversonSource:Twitter

Authorities investigating the incident. Picture: TwitterSource:Channel 7

HOW THE SHOOTING UNFOLDED

Two officers responded to a 911 call about a possible assault in the alley off 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.

“Investigators are attempting to determine whether any video of the incident exists.”

Minneapolis police say a program of issuing body cameras to all of its deployed officers was recently completed. The two officers involved have been placed on paid administrative leave.

“I’M DONE WITH ALL THIS VIOLENCE”

The dead woman’s partner was Don Damond, vice president and manager of Little Six Casino in Minnesota.

His son Zach Damond said Ms Damond “heard a 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.

Police did not have their body cameras turned on during the shooting.Source:Supplied

“She probably thought something bad was happening and then next thing I know they take my best friend’s life.

“I demand answers.

“If anybody can help, just call police and demand answers. I’m so done with all this violence. It’s so much bulls**t. America sucks.”

Minneapolis mayor Betsy Hodges said she intended to find out why the officers’ body cameras were not turned on.

“As mayor of our city, a wife, and a grandmother, I am heartsick and deeply disturbed by what occurred last night,” she posted on Facebook.

SPIRITUAL HEALER

Ms Damond was to be married to Mr Damond, 50, in August, according to Hannah, a close family friend, the Star Tribune reports.

Hannah said Ms Damond, who had lived in Manly, worked as “a spiritual healer” and that “she was the most loving woman” who “kind of flowed through the house so lightly.”

She said there was no way Ms Damond would have had a gun and had often talked about how things were better in Australia because of strict gun ownership laws.

Mr Damond was on a business trip and returned home Sunday afternoon after the tragedy occurred.

The local community has been upset by the incident. Picture: TwitterSource:Supplied

Local residents hold a vigil at the scene of the shooting. Picture: Jeff Wagner/WCCO/TwitterSource:Twitter

Justine Damond in a picture from her Instagram account. Picture: InstagramSource:Supplied

Ms. Damond is understood to have led meditation workshops at the nearby Lake Harriet Spiritual Community, which has posted a tribute to her on its Facebook page.

“We are so sad to report the tragic shooting of Justine Damond,” the post said. “Justine was one of the most loving people you would ever meet. We can’t even imagine LHSC with out her.”

Activist Mel Reeves, organised a vigil at 6pm Sunday on 51st Street near where the shooting occurred.

Justine Diamond’s personal website says she had originally trained as a vet, but has studied and practiced oga and meditation for more than 17 years.

It states she is a “qualified yoga instructor, personal health and life coach and meditation teacher, embracing and teaching the neuro-scientific benefits of meditation.”

The Hennepin County Medical Examiner will conduct an autopsy and release details, including the cause and manner of her death.

CAMERA QUESTIONS

Local media is reporting Minneapolis Police Department policy does not allow for the deactivation of police body cameras “for an arrest, DUI, Use of Force, traffic stop or a ‘Significant Incident’.”

The cameras are designed to activate automatically when officers respond to an incident, and officers are responsible for ensuring the cameras are functional before going on patrol.

Assistant Minneapolis police chief Medaria Arradondo confirmed that a $US4 million program to outfit all beat police with the cameras had been completed late last year.

How both cameras came to be deactivated during the Ms Diamond incident is raising eyebrows, as the shooting is exactly the type of event they were supposed to provide clear and impartial evidence for.