Two people, one of them a 17-year-old boy, have been treated for gunshot wounds following unrest in a remote Top End community, according to NT Police.
Extra officers have been sent to the community of Peppimenarti, which is near Wadeye and about 320 kilometres south-west of Darwin, in response.
NT Police Commander Matt Hollamby said local officers had responded to a "series of disturbances", including armed people and dangerous driving, in the community Wednesday evening.
"On arrival of the police, they discovered a 17-year-old youth who'd been shot in the shoulder," he said.
"They later on found a 21-year-old man who'd also suffered a minor gunshot wound to the arm."
Police initially reported that the younger man was 15 before clarifying his age on Friday.
Commander Hollamby said the 17-year-old boy was treated at a remote community health clinic, and was then flown to Royal Darwin Hospital.
It's understood he is currently in a stable condition.
The 21-year-old, whose wound police have described as a a "minor elbow injury", was treated at the local health clinic before being discharged.
Commander Hollamby said police believed the same gun, which is understood to be a rifle, had caused both wounds.
He also said officers from the NT Police's Territory Response Group (TRG) tactical unit, detectives and forensic officers had arrived in the community.
"The TRG were deployed to ensure the safety of the investigators, and to bring calm to the community," he said.
"That objective has been achieved.
"But they will support the local police, along with the investigators, for as long as is necessary."
Latest violence follows 18-year-old's death in September
The reported incident comes months after the death of an 18-year-old man during violence in the community.
The teenager died after being struck by an arrow in September.
His family members later told the ABC the ongoing unrest had driven families from their homes, prevented children from attending school and frightened workers away.
They said the community did not have adequate police to address ongoing violence and in December launched human rights legal action over the situation.
The community was also hit by flooding from Ex-Tropical Cyclone Ellie earlier this month, when people had already been living in tents since 2020.
Commander Hollamby said gun violence in Peppimenarti was deeply concerning and police hoped the incident was a "one-off".
"There have been issues there in the past, in the community, but not necessarily with firearms," he said.
"This is very concerning, and we want to bring it to a resolution as quickly as we can, for the safety of the other residents of the community."
Police are urging any witnesses or anyone with information about the incident to contact them.
