Millner woman shot in suspected attempted murder suicide

A woman is fighting for her life after she was allegedly shot by her partner before he turned the gun on himself in a suspected suicide attempt.

The 38-year-old woman was found with a gunshot wound to her abdomen at a house on Sprigg Street in Millner, Darwin’s north, at 6.30pm on Tuesday.

A 35-year-old man was also found dead with a firearm next to him. A neighbor said the man shot his ex-partner before taking his own life.

The woman was taken to the Royal Darwin Hospital where she underwent surgery and is fighting for her life in intensive care.

The incident marked the second shooting in the Northern Territory capital after a man was found dead. The two shootings are unrelated.

Neighbors told us NT news they heard screams from the house, along with the sound of the two shots that discovered the dead man and the wounded woman.

The couple was reported to be in a relationship, but the woman was staying in a domestic violence shelter and had returned home alone with her child to pick up belongings with the intention of leaving her partner.

An unnamed neighbor described what happened as an “ambush” and said the woman was invited back into the house by the alleged gunman.

“The level of domestic violence in this city is appalling,” he said.

‘It comes across differently when it’s on your street.’

Another neighbor, Kim Leonard-Bond, said the man’s brother performed chest compressions on one of the individuals before paramedics arrived.

Mrs Leonard-Bond said she had known the family since the brothers were boys.

“I just think as a mother…I just think, oh my God, how do you deal with the loss of your child, let alone someone who committed suicide in your house?” she said.

Friends were seen visiting the home Wednesday morning as a man quietly cried in his car just yards from the home.

Major Crime Detective Paul Morrissey was she could not confirm whether there was a history of domestic violence, or whether the woman was in a shelter, but did confirm this Other family members were home during the shooting.

‘It’s worrying for the neighbours. It is of course distressing for family members and friends of the people involved and also a confrontational situation for emergency workers,” he said.

He said the investigation is still in its early stages but does not expect any arrests in the suspected suicide attempt.

Police were still at the property on Wednesday morning and evidence markers were seen on a pair of men’s running shoes.

Detectives also interviewed local residents and sought witnesses.

A report is being prepared for the coroner.

The injured woman was rushed to Royal Darwin Hospital where she underwent surgery and remains in a critical condition

Earlier on Tuesday, police were called to another shooting in Darwin’s northern suburb of Karama, with a 63-year-old man found dead at 4.30pm.

A resident said he saw a paddy wagon “coming around” on the street near the home on Eaton Place on Tuesday evening.

“Soon after that there were two, three, four police cars and two ambulances, all here within a few minutes,” he said.

“I didn’t hear any noise or anything leading up to it, and we were outside.”

Mr Morrissey said a firearm was seized at the scene and the circumstances surrounding the death were being investigated.

“These incidents could happen anywhere, I guess, but there doesn’t seem to be any kind of ongoing concern regarding these incidents,” he said of both shootings.

Police are investigating whether the weapons were licensed and legally kept in both buildings.

Northern Territory Chief Minister Natasha Fyles expressed her condolences to those affected by the two tragedies.

“My thoughts are with the family, friends and neighbors involved in these incidents and we will allow the police to conduct the appropriate investigation,” she said.

“(It’s) something we don’t see every day in the Territory and quite significant given the advice I’ve been given.”