- Teen victim of beachside shooting identified
- Police continue to search for the killer
A teenager gunned down during a violent brawl at a popular beach has been identified as his killer remains on the run.
Emergency services were called to the Bar Beach car park on Memorial Drive in Newcastle in the New South Wales Hunter Region about 11.40pm on Wednesday.
Paramedics discovered Ekampreet Sahni, 18, with a gunshot wound to his upper torso and attempted to treat him, but he died at the scene.
Police sources told The Daily Telegraph Mr Sahni and a friend had been in the company of two females, when the women called three male friends to join them.
Reportedly, an altercation then broke out and then ended.
A short while later, a white Volvo SUV is said to have arrived at the scene carrying three men.
Sources told the publication two men then exited the vehicle and made threats before shots were fired.
The vehicle was found burning in the nearby suburb of Tingira Heights about midnight.
Pictured is Ekampreet Sahni, 18, who was shot dead at a Central Coast beach on Wednesday
Devastated loved ones were seen embracing each other as they broke down in tears at the scene of the horrific shooting
Paramedics were unable to prevent the 18-year-old from dying at the scene
Firefighters spent about half-an-hour extinguishing the fire which ultimately destroyed the vehicle.
Crime scenes were established at both locations.
NSW Police acting superintendent Steve Benson told the media on Thursday the shooting was likely not related to the earlier altercation.
‘We don’t believe the fight was organised, and we don’t believe that this incident is related to that earlier fight at the car park,’ he said.
‘I will say the investigation is in its infancy, so we’re looking at all lines of inquiry and all possibilities.’
Acting superintendent Benson said police had devoted a ‘large number of resources’ to the investigation and were ‘working to establish’ whether the victim was known to the shooter.
‘It’s only a number of hours into the investigation and we’re yet to establish a motive,’ he said.
NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley confirmed she would ‘throw every resource’ at the investigation.
‘This sort of violence is not what we ever want to see on our streets.’
Anyone with relevant information or dashcam vision of the incident is urged to contact Newcastle Police or Crime Stoppers.
