Minneapolis police chief resigns after cop fatally shot unarmed Australian woman

Minneapolis police chief Janee Harteau issued her resignation on Friday following the fatal police shooting of an unarmed Australian woman, saying that she did so after “deep reflection.”

In an announcement posted on the Minneapolis Police Department’s Facebook page entitled “resignation statement from Chief Harteau,” she said: “I’ve decided I am willing to step aside to let a fresh set of leadership eyes see what more can be done for the MPD to be the very best it can be.”

WATCH: Angry citizens interrupted and took over a press conference by Minneapolis mayor Betsy Hodges who was announcing the resignation of Police Chief Janee Harteau. 

12:12 ‘Bye, bye Betsy:’ Angry citizens take over press conference by Minneapolis mayor

The death of Justine Damond, 40, from a single gunshot wound to the abdomen fired through an open window of a police patrol car, has outraged her relatives and the public in Australia.

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull called it “shocking” and “inexplicable.”

Harteau’s statement come a day after she told reporters during her first news conference following Damond’s death that the shooting violated department training and procedures and that the victim “didn’t have to die.”

3:48 ‘Justine didn’t have to die’: Minnesota police make statement over fatal shooting of Justine Damond

• ‘Justine didn’t have to die’: Minnesota police make statement over fatal shooting of Justine Damond
• Minnesota police chief says body cameras should have been on during fatal shooting of Australian woman
• Minnesota police chief discusses inexperience of police officers
• ‘This is about an individual officers actions’: Minnesota police chief
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READ MORE: Minneapolis officer who shot Australian woman had no issues in training: police chief

“Last Saturday’s tragedy, as well as some other recent incidents, have caused me to engage in deep reflection,” Harteau said in her statement on Friday.

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“Despite the MPD’s many accomplishments under my leadership over these years and my love for the city, I have to put the communities we serve first.”

WATCH: The mayor of Minneapolis Betsy Hodges says she won’t be resigning despite a vocal protest that interrupted her earlier press conference announcing the resignation of Janee Harteau.

0:46 Mayor of Minneapolis Betsy Hodges says she won’t resign

Here’s the statement from the Minneapolis Police Department announcing Janee Harteau’s resignation: