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Police officer who shot Justine Damond had less than two years' experience

Los Angeles: The police officer who shot Australian woman Justine Damond has broken his silence, extending his sympathy to her grieving family.

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IN FULL: Police audio of Justine Damond shooting

Minneapolis Police have released audio of the moments around the fatal US police shooting of Australian spiritual healer and meditation coach Justine Damond in a Minneapolis alley.

In a statement released by his lawyer, officer Mohamed Noor says he has Ms Damond's family in his "thoughts and prayers".

The statement released by lawyer Tom Plunkett came just after Ms Damond's fiance Don Damond made an emotional appearance outside their Minneapolis home, near where she was gunned down on Saturday night local time.

"Officer Noor extends his condolences to the family and anyone else who has been touched by this event," Mr Plunkett said.

"He takes their loss seriously and keeps them in his daily thoughts and prayers.

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"He takes these events very seriously because for him being a police officer is a calling. He entered the police force to serve the community and to protect the people he serves.

"The current environment for police is difficult but Officer Noor accepts this as part of his calling.

"We would like to say more and will in the future. At this time however, there are several investigations that are ongoing. More importantly Officer Noor wants to respect the privacy of the family and asks the same in return during this difficult period."

The statement came as the US medical examiner who performed the autopsy ruled her death a homicide.

"This individual died of a gunshot wound of the abdomen," the Hennepin County Medical Examiner's Office said on Monday. "Manner of death is homicide."

Chilling new audio also has emerged of the moments around the fatal shooting of the spiritual healer and meditation coach in an alley behind her home.

The officers are heard communicating with their dispatcher over the police radio, including calling for back-up and their attempts to perform CPR on Ms Damond.

"Shots fired ... we have one down," one of the officers says.

Ms Damond's death has devastated and outraged family, friends and left the Minneapolis community upset about the latest police shooting in their city.

It has been revealed officer Noor lacked experience, having only joined the Minneapolis Police Department a little over two years ago.

He was reportedly seated on the passenger seat of his vehicle when he fired multiple shots at Sydney-raised Ms Damond, who was in her pyjamas.

The police audio was posted on the Minnesota Police Clips website. It begins with the description of a "female screaming behind the building", believed to be what Ms Damond told the dispatcher in her initial 911 call.

"We take this seriously with great compassion for all persons who are being touched by this," Mr Plunkett, told Minneapolis TV station WCCO.

Mr Plunkett confirmed his client fired at the 40-year-old Australian bride-to-be, according to WCCO.

Ms Damond called police just before midnight on Saturday after hearing a possible assault taking place in an alley behind her Minneapolis home. 

A May 2016 newsletter from the City of Minneapolis said he joined the force in 2015 and had only recently completed his field training. He was the first Somali-American officer at Minneapolis' 5th Precinct, the newsletter said. He has a degree in economics and business administration, and had previously worked in property management.

A mobile phone was reportedly found near Ms Damond's body. State investigators confirmed on Monday that no weapon was found at the scene.

The shooting has shattered Ms Damond's family and friends in Australia and the US. It has also outraged residents of Minneapolis and adjoining St Paul who are still reeling from other high-profile police shootings.

Ms Damond's death from a police gun has also generated widespread media coverage across the US.

Mr Noor and his partner's body cameras were not turned on and their police car dashboard camera did not capture the incident.

Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges told reporters she has "a lot of questions why the body cameras were not on".

"I know many of you are frustrated at the pace of information being released around Saturday night's shooting," Mayor Hodges wrote in a Monday Facebook posting.

"I am too."

Ms Damond's death is being investigated by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, not the Minneapolis Police Department.

Mr Noor and his partner are on paid administrative leave.

Ms Damond, formerly Justine Ruszczyk who took her American fiance Don Damond's surname before next month's planned wedding, moved to the US in 2015 and worked as a spiritual mentor in the Minneapolis area.

Her violent death was a shock to relatives, friends and colleagues who described her as a peaceful, calm and a positive force.

Ms Damond's soon-to-be stepson, Zach Damond, is desperate for answers.

"My mum is dead because a police officer shot her for reasons I don't know," the 22-year-old said.

Her family in Sydney has called for privacy.

"This is a very difficult time for our family. We are trying to come to terms with this tragedy and to understand why this has happened," they said in a statement.

The incident has shone new light on police shootings in the US.

The Washington Post reported Ms Damond is one of at least 524 people fatally shot by police in the US this year and and the fifth in Minnesota

The Minneapolis-St Paul area is still reeling from the acquittal last month of a police officer who shot dead a man, Philando Castile, during a traffic stop while Castile's girlfriend live streamed the horrifying incident.

Violent protests also flared after two officers fatally shot 24-year-old Jamar Clark in 2015 and were not charged.

AAP

Originally published on smh.com.au as 'Police officer who shot Justine Damond had less than two years' experience'.