A man has been killed in a crossbow incident at a remote Northern Territory community

Violence and unrest in a small remote community has been linked to ongoing disturbances across the broader region, as police address retribution concerns. Read the latest on the situation.

A small remote community is in mourning after a man was shot and killed by a crossbow amid ongoing unrest.

The 36-year-old man died just before midnight Tuesday after he was shot with the weapon in Peppimenarti, about 320km from Darwin, in the West Daly region.

Major Crime Senior Sergeant Paul Morrissey said the man suffered an arrow wound and was taken to a health clinic in the community where he was declared dead.

“We believe that we will be connected to the ongoing disturbances out there … in the West Daly region,” Sergeant Morrissey said.

He said the fatal shooting was believed to be connected to ongoing disputes between families in the region, which were also the cause of violent unrest in neighbouring Wadeye.

Detective Senior Sergeant Paul Morrissey. Picture: Floss Adams.

Sergeant Morrissey said an 18-year-old man is helping police with ongoing investigations.

“We believe he’s been involved in the incident, but we’re yet to establish his full involvement,” he said.

Sergeant Morrissey said that investigation was still in its early stages, with officers still trying to seize the weapon, work out the cause of the Tuesday night disturbance, if alcohol was a factor, and who may have witnessed the shooting.

He said there was “nothing to indicate” that there was a concern about payback violence in the wake of the fatal shooting.

Sergeant Morrissey said six Territory Response Group members, four Major Crimes detectives and two crime scene examiners as well as general duties officers had been sent to Peppimenarti.

SURGE TO PEPPIMENARTI

Chief Minister Natasha Fyles said there had been a surge in police and government services deployed in response to the upsurge in violence in Peppimenarti, in the West Daly region.

Ms Fyles would not go into details but said she had been briefed on a police investigation into the man’s death.

“So police are investigating a matter and my thoughts are with the family,” she said.

“Police and I have been briefed by the Police Commissioner this morning and have sent more resources out to that community.”

Crime scenes have been established in Peppimenarti.

The West Daly Regional Council has closed all council services in the remote town as a result of a “serious incident” overnight.

Ms Fyles said an incident management team had been activated, with cross-government services responding to the volatile situation.

She acknowledged that unrest had been simmering in Peppimenarti for a while.

“We have provided significant cross-government resources into that region in that area, and that’s been over some time,” Ms Fyles said.

“More broadly in the West Daly, an area that has seen unprecedented levels of community disruption of late, there has been significant investment and government work.”

The Northern Land Council has reportedly called for an urgent meeting with police and the police union.

National Indigenous Australians Agency Reconciliation Action Plan central group member Henry Wilson said he was in Darwin when the news broke.

Mr Wilson said the mourning for the man was intense after he was fatally shot by a crossbow.

“Everyone is not OK,” he said.

The Peppimenarti health clinic is closed, with calls to the centre redirected to the Palumpa Health Centre, 48km south west of the town.

Ms Fyles said the government would work with land councils and non-government organisations to address the “underlying issues” in the unrest.

“That’s why you need to see (a) significant investment, not only into resources in urban areas, but into the bush,” she said.

“These are complex, multifaceted issues that we will continue to address.”

An aerial view of Peppimenarti, a remote community in the West Daly region 320km southwest of Darwin where a man died amid ongoing unrest.

Ms Fyles said withdrawing health workers, or other government workers, was a last resort.

“When we have a critical incident or situation in a community rather than withdrawing those government resources, we work across government agencies to make sure that those staff are safe,” she said.

“So sometimes it can be making sure that there is additional support to them, so they feel safe.

“In other situations it might be changing those staff over (and) putting different health staff in.

“I would have to check the specifics (of what is happening for Peppimenarti).”

The Education Department said Peppimenarti School remained open and learning packs were available for students who required them.

WEST DALY UNREST

The 200-strong population of Peppimenarti has gone through significant upheaval over the past 12 months, including high levels of alcohol and unrest in a neighbouring community.

Police have also been aware of recent unrest in Peppimenarti since at least November 2021, with reports of shots being fired in the community allegedly linked to a longstanding conflict between families.

The recent violence comes only months after Wadeye was gripped with high levels of violence, unrest and destruction amid “family fighting”.

In May, about 500 people lost their homes to violence in Wadeye, with arsonists and rioters damaging about 80 homes and destroying 37 other houses.

During the unrest families that had been living in Wadeye returned to Peppimenarti, which is 92km east of Wadeye.

An 18-year-old was charged with manslaughter following the death of a 32-year-old in May.

NT Police said in one incident officers used “chemical munitions” after 300 people gathered in an oval.

Crossbows stolen from a popular Darwin business were reportedly used in the Wadeye violence, with images of at least four people impaled by bows circulating online.

At the time the West Daly Regional Council called for a task force, and a united approach to tackle the community unrest.