NT Police investigate suspected attempted murder-suicide in Millner home, hours after an unrelated fatal shooting in Karama
NT Police say a firearm was found next to the body of a 35-year-old man in Millner as his ex-partner was raced to hospital after being shot in the stomach. This was just hours after an unrelated fatal shooting in Karama.
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A woman is fighting for her life in hospital following a suspected attempted murder-suicide, one of two horror shootings in Darwin overnight.
Major Crime detective Paul Morrissey has confirmed police were called to two separate fatal shootings on Tuesday evening, resulting in the death of a 63-year-old Karama man and a 35-year-old man in Millner.
A 38-year-old woman, at the Millner property, remains in a critical condition in the intensive care unit at Royal Darwin Hospital.
Mr Morrissey said both investigations were “still in its infancy” but said arrests were unlikely in relation to both incidents.
“The investigation is too early but I’m anticipating there won’t be,” he said.
The Karama shooting is believed to be non-suspicious, while the Millner incident is being investigated as a domestic violence-related attempted murder-suicide.
Mr Morrissey said police were called to Millner after it was reported two people had gunshot wounds in a Sprigg St home at 6.30pm.
The 35-year-old man was found dead at the scene with a firearm close to his body, while a 38-year-old woman was raced to hospital with a gunshot wound to the abdomen.
A NT Health spokesman said the 38-year-old woman remained in a critical condition in Royal Darwin Hospital on Wednesday morning.
“She had surgery last night, she remains in a critical condition,” Mr Morrisey said.
Mr Morrisey confirmed the couple were in a domestic relationship, and had both lived at the Sprigg St home “at various times”.
He was unable to confirm if there was a history of domestic violence, or if the woman was in the Family Safety Framework.
Territory Families has been contacted for comment.
Mr Morrissey said other family members were at the home during the shooting.
“It’s concerning for neighbours. It's obviously distressing for family members and friends of the persons involved and also a confronting scene for first responders,” he said.
Millner neighbour Kim Leonard-Bond said she thought the loud bangs down the road were fireworks initially, but soon realised the horror unfolding on her quiet suburban street.
“We thought it was a cracker, and then we heard this shouting,” Ms Leonard-Bond said.
“We saw police running down the street and then we knew it was real.
“(He) shot his partner, and then … (took his own life).”
Ms Leonard-Bond said the 35-year-old’s brother was performing chest compressions on one of the shooting victims before paramedics arrived.
She said she had known the family for years and had known all the brothers since they were little.
“I just think as a mother … I just think, Oh my god how do you cope with the loss of your child, let alone one that killed himself in your house?”
Several neighbours said the 38-year-old alleged shooting victim had been staying at a domestic violence shelter, but had gone to the home with her child to pick up their belongings.
One neighbour, who did not wish to be named, described it as an “ambush” after the alleged shooter invited her and her baby to the home.
He said he heard two shots and then “screaming” coming from the home across the road.
The neighbour said he knew the couple had a history of domestic abuse, which escalated as she was preparing to leave him.
“The level of domestic violence in this town is appalling,” he said.
“It hits differently when it’s on your street.”
Two police officers on Wednesday morning stood guard outside the tropical garden surrounding the Spriggs St home, as detectives canvassed the neighbourhood for witnesses.
Yellow evidence markers were in the driveway near a pair of men’s running shoes, while a green pop-up tent was set up around a section of the back garden.
Two friends of those inside the home visited the scene on Wednesday morning, with one man quietly weeping in his car just a few metres from the scene of the tragedy in the family home.
A report is being prepared for the coroner.
The suspected attempted murder-suicide came just two hours after police were called to an unrelated shooting at an Eaton Place home in Karama.
Mr Morrissey said police found the body of a 63-year-old man with gunshot injuries at 4.30pm.
“A crime scene was established and investigations have commenced,” he said.
He confirmed family members were in the Karama home at the time of the shooting.
A resident said he saw a paddy wagon come “flying around” the street on Tuesday evening.
“Quickly after that, there were two, three, four cop cars and two ambulances, all here within a couple of minutes,” he said.
“I didn’t hear any noise or anything leading up to it, and we were outside.”
The man said the street was usually “very quiet” and he had never heard any commotion from the house before.
Mr Morrissey said a firearm was seized at the scene and the circumstances surrounding the death are under investigation.
At this stage they are not believed to be suspicious.
“(But) we’re considering all options in regard to that investigation,” he said.
“Autopsies haven’t been completed yet,” he said.
“The crime scene remains open.”
Mr Morrissey said the firearms were found at each crime scene, and there “does not appear to be any danger to the public”.
“These incidents can happen anywhere, I suppose, but there doesn’t appear to be any sort of ongoing concern in regards to either these incidents,” he said.
He said police were still investigating to see if the guns were licenced and lawfully held at both properties.
Chief Minister Natasha Fyles described both incidents as “tragic” and said she had spoken to Police Commissioner Michael Murphy in the wake of the two shootings.
“My thoughts are with the family, the friends and the neighbours of these incidents and we’ll allow police to undertake the appropriate investigations,” she said.
“(It‘s) something that we don’t see every day in the Territory and quite significant from the advice I’ve been provided.
“More broadly, we know domestic and family violence is a huge issue in the Territory and that's why we’ve invested significantly … we’re not just focused on the acute crisis end, but also the behaviour change programs and the work that stops the behaviours in the first place.”
Ms Fyles said gun laws were “harmonised” across the country but said any advice police may provide to the government would be considered.
sierra.haigh@news.com.au
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