CANBERRA, Nov. 14 (Xinhua) -- A Northern Territory (NT) Police officer in Australia has been charged with murder over the shooting of an indigenous teenager.

Constable Zachary Rolfe, 28, was on Wednesday night charged with the murder of 19-year-old Kumanjayi Walker in an out-of-session court hearing and granted bail.

According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) on Thursday, Walker, a Warlpiri man from Yuendumu in the Australian Outback, was shot by a police officer on Saturday night.

There was no medical help at the time in the community, which is 266 km northwest of Alice Springs.

In a statement released on Wednesday night, NT Police confirmed that a 28-year-old officer had been charged with murder.

"A 28-year-old male Northern Territory police officer has been granted bail in an out-of-session Local Court hearing to appear in Alice Springs on Dec. 19, 2019," the statement said.

"The officer has been suspended on pay. As this matter is before the court, no further information will be released."

Posting on social media after the murder charge was revealed, NT Chief Minister Michael Gunner urged "everyone at this extremely difficult time to be as respectful and peaceful as possible."

"This is a sad time for all involved. It is a time of high emotion," he said.

"What I can say, and what is more critical than ever to remember, is that all members of our police force serve us day in night out, keep us safe and often put themselves in harm's way.

"As Territorians we have been through challenging times before, our history shows we always support each other and we will again."

According to The Australian on Thursday, police have said Walker "lunged" at two officers trying to arrest him for offences related to the breach of conditions on a suspended sentence. They have said one officer received a shoulder wound from an "edged weapon."

Jamie Chalker, the NT Police commissioner, announced a full investigation into Walker's death.

"All the answers that people are seeking will be known," Chalker said.

On Wednesday, rallies were held in small remote communities and major cities in solidarity with Yuendumu and Walker, said the ABC report. Enditem

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