NT Police say up to five people have died in a shooting at multiple locations in Darwin.
The suspected gunman, aged 45, has been arrested and the ABC understands he was recently released from prison.
Witnesses say the man walked into the Palms Motel in McMinn Street while holding a pump-action shotgun and shot at multiple doors.
Multiple witnesses said he was looking for someone called “Alex”.
He then fled the scene and remained at large for approximately an hour, with road blocks in place around the city.
NT Health said another two victims were at the Royal Darwin Hospital in a stable condition.
There is a second crime scene on Gardens Hill Crescent outside the city center, where residents say a man was shot in the head.
This has not yet been confirmed by authorities.
There is also possibly a third crime scene at the Buff Club on the Stuart Highway, where there are unconfirmed reports a man had his throat cut.
‘She was bleeding everywhere’
Witness Leah Potter says a woman was shot in the legs at the Palms Hotel before being taken away by an ambulance.
“I was in the carpark [of a neighbouring hotel] when I heard what I thought were fireworks going off, really loud cracking, banging fireworks,” she said.
“And then a man came running with a woman in his arms from next door which is the Palms Motel, which is the motel next to my motel, and he just dropped her on the footpath right in front of us.
“I ran and got some towels and wrapped up her legs, she had little holes all in her skin on both her legs and she was bleeding everywhere.”
Ms Potter said police were across the road at a Coles Express service station for another matter, “so the boyfriend dropped the bleeding woman in front of us and he ran over to the Coles Express to get the police”.
She said the gunman had a pump-action shotgun and ran off down Finniss St towards The Gardens.
“The boyfriend said that this man had arrived at their front door and shot through the front door, shot her through the front door,” Ms Potter said.
“There was lots of blood. She was crying but she was pretty quiet … I think maybe she was in a bit of shock.”
‘He shot up all the rooms’
Witness Matt James said the woman’s boyfriend “told me he opened his door and there was this random gunman standing there who proceeded to unload his rounds on her”.
Another witness, John Rose, said he saw the gunman walk into the Palms Motel with “a sawn-off shotgun”.
“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.”
He said the gunman was calm as he shot up the motel.
“Once he left we went in and found one gentleman, he’s over there, we pulled him out,” Mr Rose said.
“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.”
