Hubert Youngblood
Banned
Australian woman, 40, engaged to an American 'shot dead by police in US city of Minneapolis after she called 911 to report a noise outside her home'
Published: 19:02 EDT, 16 July 2017 | Updated: 21:12 EDT, 16 July 2017
An Australian woman has been shot dead by police in the United States, after calling 911 to report a disturbance in a nearby alley.
Justine Ruszczyk was at home with her soon-to-be stepson when she called police to report a noise in a nearby alley in South Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Saturday.
When police arrived at her home at around 11.30am, 'one officer fired their weapon, fatally striking the woman' as she reportedly stood in her driveway.
Ms Ruszczyk, 40, was originally from Sydney but had been living in the US for three years and was engaged to marry American businessman Don Damond, 50.
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Justine Ruszczyk (pictured) has been shot dead by police in the United States, after calling 911 to report a disturbance in an alley near her home at South Minneapolis, Minnesota
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Ms Ruszczyk, 40, was originally from Sydney but had been living in the US for three years and was engaged to marry American businessman Don Damond (right), 50, next month
Shattered friends said the woman and her fiance were due to marry next month.
At the time of the shooting Mr Damond was away, with his son Zach reportedly leaving to pick him up from the airport just minutes before Ms Ruszczyk was shot.
Just hours after the shooting, her heartbroken soon-to-be stepson spoke with close friends of the woman, slamming police over the death.
'Basically my mum's dead because a police officer shot her for reasons I don't know,' Zach Damond said.
'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.
'She was a very passionate woman, she thought something bad was happening - and next thing you know they take my best friend's life.'
In a statement, the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension said an investigation was in its early stages, but that police did not have their body cameras on during the incident.
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Ms Ruszczyk was with her soon-to-be stepson when she called police to report a noise in an alley near her home in South Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Saturday
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When police arrived at her home at around 11.30am, 'one officer fired their weapon, fatally striking the woman' as she reportedly stood in her driveway
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Just hours after the shooting Zach Damond (pictured), her heartbroken soon-to-be stepson, spoke with close friends of the woman and slammed police over her death
Friends of the woman told the Star Tribune that she had often spoken out against gun violence and told 'how much better' things were in Australia.
Ms Ruszczyk was a 'corporate speaker, trainer and coach' who worked to spiritually help others, according to her website and social media accounts.
Originally trained as a vet at the University of Sydney, she was 'supporting individuals and organizations to discover the power and potential within their own brains and hearts.'
Hundreds gathered outside the Damond home in the hours after her death to hold a vigil for Ms Ruszczyk, with her neighbours remembering a 'beautiful light'.
'This woman was a beautiful light, she was a healer, she was loved, she should be alive - she should still be here,' one friend said.
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In a statement, the Minneapolis Bureau of Criminal Apprehension said an investigation was in its early stages, but confirmed police did not have their body cameras on during the incident
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Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges said she was disturbed by the shooting and called on BCA to release information about Ms Ruszczyk's death as quickly as possible
Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges said she was disturbed by the shooting and called on BCA to release information about Ms Ruszczyk's death as quickly as possible.
'As mayor of our city, a wife, and a grandmother, I am heartsick and deeply disturbed by what occurred last night,' Mayor Hodges said, the Star Tribune reports.
'There are still many questions about what took place, and while the investigation is still in its early stages, I am asking the BCA to release as much information, as quickly as they are able to.
'My thoughts are now with everyone affected by this tragic incident, especially the deceased woman and her family.'
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Hundreds of people gathered outside the woman's home on Sunday to hold a vigil
- An Australian woman has been shot dead by police in South Minneapolis, U.S
- Justine Ruszczyk called 911 on Saturday night to report a possible assault nearby
- Police say: 'At one point one officer fired their weapon, fatally striking a woman'
- The 40-year-old from Sydney was engaged to an American man and lived in US
- Her soon-to-be stepson Zach Damond has slammed police for killing his mother
Published: 19:02 EDT, 16 July 2017 | Updated: 21:12 EDT, 16 July 2017
An Australian woman has been shot dead by police in the United States, after calling 911 to report a disturbance in a nearby alley.
Justine Ruszczyk was at home with her soon-to-be stepson when she called police to report a noise in a nearby alley in South Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Saturday.
When police arrived at her home at around 11.30am, 'one officer fired their weapon, fatally striking the woman' as she reportedly stood in her driveway.
Ms Ruszczyk, 40, was originally from Sydney but had been living in the US for three years and was engaged to marry American businessman Don Damond, 50.
Scroll down for video
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Justine Ruszczyk (pictured) has been shot dead by police in the United States, after calling 911 to report a disturbance in an alley near her home at South Minneapolis, Minnesota
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Ms Ruszczyk, 40, was originally from Sydney but had been living in the US for three years and was engaged to marry American businessman Don Damond (right), 50, next month
Shattered friends said the woman and her fiance were due to marry next month.
At the time of the shooting Mr Damond was away, with his son Zach reportedly leaving to pick him up from the airport just minutes before Ms Ruszczyk was shot.
Just hours after the shooting, her heartbroken soon-to-be stepson spoke with close friends of the woman, slamming police over the death.
'Basically my mum's dead because a police officer shot her for reasons I don't know,' Zach Damond said.
'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.
'She was a very passionate woman, she thought something bad was happening - and next thing you know they take my best friend's life.'
In a statement, the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension said an investigation was in its early stages, but that police did not have their body cameras on during the incident.
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Ms Ruszczyk was with her soon-to-be stepson when she called police to report a noise in an alley near her home in South Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Saturday
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When police arrived at her home at around 11.30am, 'one officer fired their weapon, fatally striking the woman' as she reportedly stood in her driveway
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Just hours after the shooting Zach Damond (pictured), her heartbroken soon-to-be stepson, spoke with close friends of the woman and slammed police over her death
Friends of the woman told the Star Tribune that she had often spoken out against gun violence and told 'how much better' things were in Australia.
Ms Ruszczyk was a 'corporate speaker, trainer and coach' who worked to spiritually help others, according to her website and social media accounts.
Originally trained as a vet at the University of Sydney, she was 'supporting individuals and organizations to discover the power and potential within their own brains and hearts.'
Hundreds gathered outside the Damond home in the hours after her death to hold a vigil for Ms Ruszczyk, with her neighbours remembering a 'beautiful light'.
'This woman was a beautiful light, she was a healer, she was loved, she should be alive - she should still be here,' one friend said.
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In a statement, the Minneapolis Bureau of Criminal Apprehension said an investigation was in its early stages, but confirmed police did not have their body cameras on during the incident
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Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges said she was disturbed by the shooting and called on BCA to release information about Ms Ruszczyk's death as quickly as possible
Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges said she was disturbed by the shooting and called on BCA to release information about Ms Ruszczyk's death as quickly as possible.
'As mayor of our city, a wife, and a grandmother, I am heartsick and deeply disturbed by what occurred last night,' Mayor Hodges said, the Star Tribune reports.
'There are still many questions about what took place, and while the investigation is still in its early stages, I am asking the BCA to release as much information, as quickly as they are able to.
'My thoughts are now with everyone affected by this tragic incident, especially the deceased woman and her family.'
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Hundreds of people gathered outside the woman's home on Sunday to hold a vigil
