Four people were killed and one wounded when a gunman went on a shooting rampage with a pump-action shotgun in a motel, police have confirmed
A 45-year-old suspect, who police have told local media they believe was "acting alone," is alleged to have gone on the hour-long killing spree in Darwin at around 6pm on Tuesday.
Earlier reports suggested five had died, but police have since clarified the fifth was rushed to hospital and is being treated for leg wounds, according to news.com.au.
Reports say police have confirmed the alleged shooter was on parole and recently released from jail.
He was wearing an electronic monitoring bracelet, and was captured after he phoned police and asked to be put in protective custody, media were told.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who learned of the shootings while visiting London, has tweeted the "terrible act of violence" is not believed to be terror-related as police in Darwin say they are dealing with 'multiple' crime scenes.
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Police told Australian media they are still working through the timeline of events.
Following the motel carnage, the gunman allegedly fled the scene and headed to an apartment complex, where another person is believed to have been killed.
Police say they are investigating five crime scenes, adding that suspect had been in prison for more than a year before his release in January. They are also reportedly probing his alleged links to outlaw motorcycle gangs, according to the ABC.
Police said the suspect was shirtless when armed officers in camouflage fatigues surrounded his truck, tackled and arrested him. They described him as a caucasian male, believed to have been acting alone.
Footage of the incident shows a blood-spattered man on the ground next to a white utility vehicle around an hour after the first reports of an active gunman began issuing in.
NT Police Duty Superintendent Lee Morgan told local media police believe the shooter acted alone, saying they are dealing with up to five crime scenes.
A witness told the ABC he saw the gunman walk into the Palms Motel with a "sawn-off shotgun" and calmly open fire.
"He shot up all the rooms and he went to every room looking for somebody and he shot them all up, then we saw him rush out, jump into his Toyota pick-up, and rush off," witness John Rose told the broadcaster.
Mr Rose said once the gunman left they went in and found one of the shooting victims.
"This lady turned up and started screaming, and we didn't realise there was another person in there… apparently he's dead, he's been shot," Mr Rose told the broadcaster.
Another witness claimed she heard what sounded like the crackle of fireworks, a woman was shot through her motel room door.
Leah Potter told the ABC a man came running out of the motel with a woman in his arms and dropped her on the ground.
The witness described how she saw the woman appeared to have been shot in the legs. She said the victim, who appeared "shocked" but conscious, was bleeding and covered in tiny hole-shaped wounds as she wrapped her in towels.
She described seeing a gunman with a pump-action shotgun running down the street away from the motel.
According to reports, two people have been taken to hospital in a stable condition following the shooting.
Footage from the scene shows armed police and patrol cars surrounding a white utility truck, with pictures capturing a bloodied man being held to the ground by officers.
Police told local media the suspect has been taken into custody.
Speaking to media in London, Mr Morrison said he had been in contact with the Northern Territory's leaders and extended his condolences to the "very tight community" he said will have been rocked by the killings.
"Our advice is that this is not a terrorist act. There's nothing to suggest that is the case, whatsoever. The true motivations of this criminal violent act will become better known.
"There is a person, I understand, that is in custody and they will work through those normal processes.
"But in the meantime I think it's important that to everyone in Darwin, everyone in the Territory, understands that the thoughts of Australians wherever they are – as far away as I am today, or closer to home – they will be thinking very much of their fellow Australians in the Territory."
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