Teen shot and killed after fight at Bar Beach carpark in Newcastle

A gunman is on the run and the car-loving 18-year-old he killed in a drive-by shooting at a popular Newcastle beach has been identified.

A car-loving teenager has been killed after multiple gunmen jumped out of a stolen car and began spraying bullets into a group gathered in the car park of a popular Newcastle beach overnight.

Ekampreet Sahni, 18, was fatally shot in the carpark of Bar Beach about 11.40pm on Wednesday.

Police sources said Mr Sahni and a mate had been associating with two females, when the women called three male friends to come to the beach.

Ekampreet Sahni, 18, was shot dead in an incident at Bar Beach in Newcastle. Picture: Supplied

When the men arrived an altercation ensued and then ended.

A short time later, a white Volvo SUV arrived at the scene with three men inside - two of who got out armed with firearms.

Sources said the men who got out of the Volvo made threats, before shots were fired.

The white SUV was found burnt out some 13km away on Croudace Rd at Tingira Heights around midnight.

Newcastle City Police District Commander, Acting Superintendent Steve Benson, said early indications from their investigation were that the fight and shooting were likely not linked.

“We don’t believe the fight was organised and we don’t believe that this incident (the shooting) is related to the fight in the carpark,” Act Supt Benson said.

“I will say the investigation is in its infancy... (and) we’re looking to speak to anyone who witnessed it.

“It is a senseless crime and one that I hope the community will not stand for, and neither do we as police.”

Police comb the crime scene in Bar Beach car park, at Bar Beach in Newcastle. Picture: John Appleyard/NewsWire

After horrified onlookers called triple-0, paramedics rushed to the scene of the shooting and attempted to treat the injured teenager, but he died at the scene.

Local detectives with assistance from the State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad have formed Strike Force Bolwarra and are now leading the hunt for the gunmen.

Police at the car park where a teenager was shot dead in Newcastle. Picture: John Appleyard/NewsWire

Forensic officers could be seen among those scouring the car park for evidence on Thursday morning, as the large beach car park remained taped off.

Beachgoers go about their day in the background as police comb over the scene at Bar Beach. Picture: John Appleyard/NewsWire

Police Minister Yasmin Catley, who is also the Labor MP for the local seat of Swansea, said

“This sort of violence is not what we ever want to see on our streets and we are not used to seeing it on our streets,” she said.

“Police have stood up a strike force immediately and we will be throwing every resource at... making sure we find the perpetrator of this horrible incident we have experienced.

“This has become a shock to the community, but let me say this, the NSW Police have to do their work, and we have to let them do their work.”

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Originally published as Teen shot and killed after fight at Bar Beach carpark in Newcastle