Peppimenarti prepares for revenge attacks in wake of fatal arrow shooting

‘You mob gotta feel the wrath’: Threats of payback and revenge have emerged in the troubled West Daly Region in the wake of a fatal crossbow shooting.

Threats of payback, revenge and retribution are emerging after a man was shot with an arrow in the West Daly region.

The 36-year-old was pierced by an arrow just before midnight on Tuesday September 13, and was taken to Peppimenarti health clinic where he was declared dead.

An 18-year-old faced Darwin Local Court on Thursday charged with manslaughter.

NT Police have alleged the attack was connected to ongoing disputes between families in the region, which was also the cause of violent unrest in neighbouring Wadeye in May.

For some, grief has turned to anger as threats of violence from the two rival families flooded online from West Daly Region Facebook accounts in the wake of the alleged shooting.

“Watch you mob back … we gonna come from anywhere,” one man wrote on Facebook.

“I really wanna do the same no mercy, girl or not, for real,” another said.

“(They’re) going to pay for what they done,” another man wrote.

“Pay back is coming soon so soon.

“We going to do the same thing they been take my big brother away.”

The threats appear to be concentrated between two distinct groups with connections to Peppimenarti and Timber Creek, a 651km drive away via Katherine.

The loved ones of the 36-year-old have threatened to take revenge for their brother, with one person writing “we gotta do the same to them”.

“You mob gotta feel the wrath of (our) family mother f—kers,” they wrote.

“Look out now … mother f—kers you wanted for life.

“I’m not gonna stop. Gone mad me. I wanna do the same mother f—kers.

“Fight us one by one fair go fight stand up and fight us.

“We’ll get them. We got lots of ways to get revenge one way or another.”

NT Police did not specifically respond to questions about the concerns about retaliation, but said there was a focus on maintaining peace and security in the region.

“Local police are continuing to engage with the community, Elders, the local council and government agencies to keep the community safe,” a spokesman said.

On Wednesday there was a surge of resources to West Daly, including police, Territory Response Group members and government services, to help maintain peace.

In the wake of the alleged fatal attack, Major Crime Senior Sergeant Paul Morrissey said there was “nothing to indicate” a concern about payback violence.

On Thursday NT Police said officers were continuing to investigate the circumstances around the fatal shooting of the 36-year-old man.

Police said no one else has been charged in relation to the 36-year-old man’s death.

In neighbouring Wadeye, 92km west of Peppimenarti, there were two reports of break-ins on Wednesday, one at a business premises and another at a school.

Police said investigations were ongoing.

Originally published as Peppimenarti prepares for revenge attacks in wake of fatal arrow shooting