CANBERRA, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Federal Indigenous Australians Minister Ken Wyatt has called for compassion and for calm after the fatal police shooting of an Aboriginal man.
Northern Territory (NT) Police Constable Zachary Rolfe was on Wednesday night charged with the murder of 19-year-old Kumanjayi Walker in an out-of-session court hearing and granted bail.
Police shot Walker at a residence in Yuendumu after two officers tried to arrest him on Saturday.
According to The Australian report, police have said Walker "lunged" at the officers and injured one of them with an "edged weapon" before he was shot. Eyewitnesses have disputed that account.
Wyatt on Thursday met with elders in Alice Springs, approximately 300 km south of Yuendumu.
"My thoughts are with all those directly involved and their families, as well as the broader community," he said in a statement.
"The incident is now subject to a judicial process, as it should be. Now is not the time for blame. Now is the time to care for those that need it most in our community. It is a time for compassion," he said.
His sentiment was echoed by the NT Chief Minister Michael Gunner and Jamie Chalker, who was sworn-in as the Commissioner of NY Police on Monday.
"What I ask for right here, right now, is that everyone remain respectful and peaceful to each other," Gunner said in a statement.
