A 38-year-old man is in custody after an alleged intruder was shot dead this morning at a property about 30 kilometres south of Katherine near the Cutta Cutta Caves.
Speaking to reporters in Katherine, Detective Senior Sergeant Jakson Evans said NT Police were called to a report of a male intruder at a property shortly after 4am.
"On arrival, police located the body of a male person who was deceased from an apparent gunshot wound," he said.
He said emergency services and police officers attempted first aid, but the man's injuries were "incompatible with life".
"As part of enquiries at that location, a male resident of that household was arrested and remains in custody with Northern Territory Police," he said.
The arrested man is 36 years old.
Sergeant Evans described it as a “homicide investigation” and said extra crime scene police had been called to examine the property.
He would not give details of the dead man's injuries, or say how many shots had been fired.
“We are identifying the deceased and engaging with his family,” Sergeant Evans said, adding it was not yet known if the two men were known to each other.
A woman and two children were inside the property at the time, he said.
"They're coping as well as can be expected," he said.
He described the scene as “confronting”, and said police were appealing for witnesses.
Sergeant Evans said he was unable to confirm if the incident was linked to an absconder from Venndale Rehabilitation Centre, about 8km south of Cutta Cutta Caves.
Cave tours have not yet begun for the year, but are set to resume in April.
On Friday, NT Police confirmed the alleged intruder was aged 26.
