rewrite this title Millner woman shot in suspected attempted murder suicide

A woman is fighting for her life after being shot by her partner before he turns the gun on himself in an attempted murder and suicide.

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

A 35-year-old man was also found dead with a gun lying next to him. A neighbor said the man shot his ex-partner before killing himself.

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

It is the second shooting to rock the Northern Territory capital after a man was found dead. The two shootings are unrelated to each other.

The neighbors said NT News they heard screams coming from the house as well as the sound of two shots where the dead man and the injured woman were discovered.

The couple are believed to be in a relationship, but the woman was staying at a domestic violence shelter and had only returned home with her child to collect her belongings with the intention of leaving her partner.

An anonymous neighbor described what happened as an “ambush”, saying the woman was asked into the house by the suspected shooter.

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

“It hits different when it’s on your street.”

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

Ms 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 cope with the loss of your child, let alone the one who committed suicide in your house?” she says.

Friends were seen visiting the home Wednesday morning, with a man crying quietly in his car just yards from the house.

Major Crimes Detective Paul Morrissey was being unable to confirm if there was a history of domestic violence or if the woman was residing in a shelter but confirmed other family members were at the home during the shooting.

“It’s worrying for the neighbors. It’s obviously distressing for family members and friends of those involved and it’s also a confrontational scene for first responders,” he said.

He said investigations were in their “early stages” but he did not anticipate any arrests in connection with the attempted murder and suspected suicide.

Police were still on scene Wednesday morning with evidence markers seen near a pair of men’s running shoes.

Detectives were also interviewing local residents and looking for witnesses.

A report is being prepared for the coroner.

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

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

A resident reported seeing a rice cart coming “flying” down the street near the Eaton Place home Tuesday evening.

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

“I didn’t hear any noise or anything before, and we were outside.”

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

“These incidents can happen anywhere, I suppose, but there doesn’t seem to be any ongoing concern with these two incidents,” he said of the two shootings.

Police are investigating whether the weapons were legally registered and possessed at both properties.

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

“My thoughts are with the family, friends and neighbors following these incidents and we will allow the police to undertake appropriate investigations,” she said.

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