An Australian woman, Justine Damond, has been shot dead by officers in Minneapolis during an incident in which the officers did not have their body cameras turned on.

She was shot and killed when two police officers responded to a 911 call about a possible assault in an alley behind a home about 11.30pm on Saturday, local time.

According to reports, Damond called police after hearing a disturbance in the alley and went out to investigate when she was shot, according to media reports.

The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said it was providing consular assistance to the family of an Australian woman who died in a shooting in Minneapolis.

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) said in a statement on Sunday that police officers had responded to an emergency call about a possible assault in an alley behind a home in the Minneapolis suburb of Fulton.

“At one point, one officer fired their weapon, fatally striking a woman,” the BCA said.

Investigators are trying to locate a video of the shooting, but the officers’ body cameras were turned off at the time and cameras in the squad car did not capture the incident.

“The officers’ body cameras were not turned on at the time and the squad camera did not capture the incident,” the BCA said in a statement.

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

Damond ran her meditation workshops at the Lake Harriet Spiritual Community, which paid tribute to her in a Facebook post.

“We are so sad to report the tragic shooting of Justine Damond,” the community’s post said.

“Justine was one of the most loving people you would ever meet. We can’t even imagine LHSC without her.”

Don Damond’s son Zach Damond, said his stepmom “heard a noise in the alley and called the police”.

Friends say Damond worked as “a spiritual healer”, remembering her as “the most loving woman”.

“She and Don were just so in love,” the friend said. “She lived such a full life.”

Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges told a news conference at City Hall late on Sunday: “I am heartsick and deeply disturbed by the fatal officer-involved shooting that happened last night.”

“I know the neighbourhood well,” said Ms Hodges, who has represented the area for eight years as a City Council member said.

“We have few facts at this point,” she said.

“I want to know more. I call on the BCA to share as much information with all of us as quickly as they can. I have questions about why the body cams weren’t on,” she said.

Authorities will conduct an autopsy and release details about the manner and cause of Ms Damond’s death, the BCA said.

A man, claiming to be Zach, gave an interview to Women’s March Minnesota on Sunday afternoon and said the police were not being transparent about his mother’s killing.

“My Mum is dead because a police officer shot her for reasons I don’t know, and I demand answers,” he said.

“America sucks,” he added.

Minneapolis police confirmed that the two officers involved are on paid administrative leave, which is standard procedure as the investigation continues.

Source: Daily Mail