The police officer charged with murder for shooting a 19-year-old indigenous man in the remote community of Yuendumu will plead not guilty, the police union said.

Constable Zachary Rolfe and another officer went to arrest Kumanjayi Walker for breaches of his suspended sentence in Yuendumu, 300 kilometres west of Alice Springs, when he was shot.

Police say a struggled ensued before Mr Walker was shot, but exactly what happened is disputed.

Rolfe, 28, was granted bail and suspended with pay at an out-of-session local court hearing on Wednesday night.

He is due to appear in court in Alice Springs on December 19.

Northern Territory Police Association president Paul McCue told reporters today the officer intends to plead not guilty to the charge.

Senior politicians and police flew into Yuendumu to reassure the community that a thorough and independent investigation will take place.

"Today is a sad day for the whole of the Northern Territory. I must call upon all Territorians to come together to work towards the future of our home," Acting Deputy Commissioner Mr White told a press conference today.

"From the moment I heard about the incident, I knew lives would be forever impacted.

"The court will need to make a decision in respect of those actions. Everybody must respect that process.

"This process is free of political influence. Of that you can be assured, and you may always be assured of that while I am at the helm."

He called on the Northern Territory community to come together and "forget the hate, wrap around one another, make the Territory a better place".

Emotions are running high among Indigenous people in the NT and around the nation, with the death becoming a flashpoint for anger over the treatment of Aboriginal people by police and issues including deaths in custody, high prison rates, historical massacres and the Stolen Generations.

Rallies and vigils for Mr Walker continue today after being held in Alice Springs, Darwin, Melbourne and Adelaide on Wednesday.

NT Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker commended the peaceful nature of the vigils, saying "grieving needs to occur".

"This will be supported by the Northern Territory police to ensure the welfare of those who attend," he said.

Mr Walker's family and Yuendumu residents have questioned why the police officer fired his gun three times instead of using a taser to provide an electric shock, or pepper spray.

They were also not told about his death until the morning after he was shot after believing overnight that he was still alive.

Video from cameras worn on the bodies of the officers involved has been viewed by NT police internal investigators.

Mr Walker was released from prison on October 21 on property and stealing offences but was being re-arrested for breaching the terms of his release.

Police had allowed Mr Walker to attend the funeral of a relative earlier that day.

There were no medical staff to initially help after the shooting, as Yuendumu Health Centre workers evacuated earlier on Saturday due to safety concerns.

The Royal Flying Doctor Service also delayed its response amid safety concerns before it was called off because the young man had died.

Staff from Yuelamu Health Centre 60kms away were injured after going to Yuendumu following the shooting and assisting in pronouncing Mr Walker dead.

They were injured in community unrest and required evacuation to receive treatment for lacerations and bruises at the Alice Springs Hospital.