NT Police investigating suspicious death at Rapid Creek Business Village

CCTV has emerged of the moments surrounding a man’s suspicious death in a mall carpark while a teenager is in custody. Here’s what we know about the unfolding investigation.

An 18-year-old man has been taken into custody in relation to a suspicious death in a suburban Darwin carpark.

Police were called to the Rapid Creek Business Village at 8.30pm on Tuesday about a report of a man unconscious near the front carpark.

The man, which police initially described to be aged in his 40s, was treated by paramedics but died at the scene.

Detective Senior Sergeant Jon Beer said police intended to speak to the man in custody later on Wednesday.

“I believe he will be able to assist us with our inquiries,” he said.

Detective Senior Sergeant Jon Beer reveals more details about the suspicious death of a man in Rapid Creek. Picture: Floss Adams

“The matter has been assigned to the Major Crime detectives to investigate as the circumstances around the situation are deemed as suspicious.

“At this stage we believe there was a group involved, we think up to three or four people involved in the incident however it is again very early in the investigation.

“Unfortunately a person has passed away as a result of the incident, so we need to establish exactly what’s occurred.”

Detective Beer said he did not believe up to 20 people were involved in the incident, despite a witness describing as many people in the area at the time.

“I don’t believe there were 20 people involved in this,” he said.

“There could have been a number of people in the area and that’s part of the investigation process as we’ll establish who was around the area at the time.”

The age of the deceased man remains unknown.

“Unfortunately the identity of the man who’s passed away isn’t confirmed yet, so we’re still working towards achieving that,” Detective Beer said.

Blood stains in the carpark at the Rapid Creek Business Village where a man, believed to be in his 40s, was allegedly assaulted and later died from his injuries at the scene about 9.30pm. The popular precinct on Trower Rd was declared a crime scene overnight Tuesday, March 7, 2023. Picture: Annabel Bowles

“I have detectives out there at the moment who are investigating the matter so they’ll certainly be going around, door knocking in the area, speaking to potential witnesses.

“I would encourage anyone who has any information to come forward.”

A business owner says the death of the man outside his store is “really tragic”, revealing an insight into the investigation.

Happy Foodland owner Paulo Mu said police called him about 10pm Tuesday to return to his shop at Rapid Creek Shopping Village and hand over CCTV.

The footage shows what appears to be a young man walk towards the road next to the store at 8.18pm before a group of four people run towards the area.

A short time later, the group walks slowly back to the centre of the shopping mall.

Patrons can also be seen sitting outside nearby cafes as the situation unfolds.

Happy Foodland owner Paulo Mu said he was called back to his Rapid Creek supermarket last night by police, to hand over CCTV. Picture: Annabel Bowles

“It looked like someone had gone, you know, there was a blanket over the body,” Mr Mu said of what he witnessed returning to the area.

“When you see a blanket over the body, everybody thinks that’s something bad, and obviously it was.

“I reckon there were six (police) cars, just scoping the area, looking for clues.

“It’s really tragic.”

On Wednesday morning, Northern Watch Commander Adam Swift told this publication emergency services were called to the Rapid Creek Business Village on Trower Rd on Tuesday night.

“Police arrived with St John’s to find a man approximately 40 years of age who looked to have been involved in a fight of some description,” he said.

“He was unconscious and went into resuscitation but has then passed away.

Rapid Creek Business Village is along the busy Trower Road. Picture: Annabel Bowles

“Major Crime investigators have been there overnight and at the moment they’re led to believe the death was post-assault.”

Commander Swift said a member of the public called police after witnessing an altercation.

Nobody else was at the scene when emergency services arrived.

A crime scene had been declared but was closed in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

Mr Mu said the crime scene covered the front carpark of the shopping mall, while one side of Trower Rd was also closed off.

He said there had been a bit more anti-social behaviour than usual in the past few weeks.

“Sometimes we have to tell them ‘look, you better go, you know, don’t hang around here,’ and what can you do?,” he said.

“Because they’ve got nowhere to go anyway.

The alleged assault happened near Happy Foodland in the Rapid Creek Shopping Village between 8pm and 9pm on Tuesday. Picture: Annabel Bowles

“About a month ago someone tried to break in the front shop

“They didn’t get in, they just broke the lock, but next door got their windows smashed and a couple other shops as well.”

Mr Mu said the shopping mall was “generally” a good place.

“It’s not too bad, you know, but I noticed getting a little bit worse,” he said.

“And we have to do something about it, you know?”

A witness and resident of the area, who did not want to be named, said they believed there were about 20 people around the shopping mall at the time of the fight.

“They were running past my house, dragging something,” she said.

“It was a pole bashing, I seen the bloke dragging the pole.

“It was just full on. People running everywhere, screaming.

The Rapid Creek Business Village where a man, believed to be in his 40s, was allegedly assaulted and later died from his injuries at the scene about 9.30pm. Picture: Annabel Bowles

“I saw a young woman getting chased down the road, fleeing from three people.

“I saw another young man being chased, going towards Jingili.

“These are people who are not local. The local ones were the ones being chased and being attacked.”

The woman said the fight was not an uncommon sight, describing the area as one of Darwin’s worst places for anti-social behaviour.

“I rang the police three times before they came,” she said.

“I see a lot of violence here, I see a lot of the shops getting broken into.

Blood stains in the carpark at the Rapid Creek Business Village where a man, believed to be in his 40s, was allegedly assaulted and later died from his injuries at the scene about 9.30pm Tuesday. Picture: Annabel Bowles

“I was very scared. I had to leave my dogs outside all night.”

She said the crime scene, which five police vehicles and two ambulances attended, closed about 4am.

“Somebody came back early this morning and was crying, there was crying and screaming,” she said.

“I just want to shut my eyes every day to it all.”

An NT Police spokesman said investigators were seeking information.

“Anyone with information, particularly if you were in the area between 8-9 pm, is urged to contact police on 131 444,” he said.

“You can also make an anonymous report through crime stoppers at 1800 333 000.”

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