Teen shot dead in Newcastle car park a 'lovely kid', friends say (2025)

The man shot dead after a fight in a car park in the New South Wales Hunter region has been remembered as a "lovely kid" and "good bloke".

Emergency services found Ekampreet Sahni Singh, 18, with a gunshot wound after they were called to Bar Beach car park in Newcastle about 11:40pm on Wednesday.

Paramedics treated Mr Singh, but he died at the scene.

"It's not just a tragic loss for the parents of [Singh] but it's a big loss for the entire community," family friend Iqbal Singh said.

Fellow family friend, Vikram Sharma, said loved ones hoped questions would be answered soon as to how and why the incident occurred.

"He wasn't a bad kid. We couldn't believe what happened. That shouldn't happen to anyone. It's very tragic," he said.

"His face is still in front of my eyes … it's a very hard time for the family."

According to police, a group was fighting in the car park when the shooting occurred.

Officers were told a man who arrived in a white SUV got out, fired the gun, then drove away.

The vehicle was later found alight in the nearby suburb of Tingira Heights just before midnight.

Crime scenes have been established at both sites.

Local detectives are investigating, assisted by the State Crime Command's homicide squad.

Local grandfather Bob Mason, who lives in the nearby suburb of Hamilton and is a regular visitor to the beach, said it was "quite disturbing" to hear about what had happened.

"This would be one of the best places in the world to visit and everyone is so happy and friendly and then this happens, it is really upsetting," he said.

"I guess it can happen anywhere, but to happen here in a family-friendly environment?

"It's just a suburban beach area."

'Senseless incident'

NSW Police Acting Superintendent Steve Benson said "a large number of resources" had been allocated to the investigation.

"This is a senseless incident, it is an incident the community will not stand for," he said.

Acting Superintendent Benson said police would be talking to those involved in the brawl.

"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 were "working to establish" whether there was a connection between the shooter and the victim.

"It's only a number of hours into the investigation and we're yet to establish a motive," he said.

Police have confirmed that a rifle was used in the shooting, and believe the SUV involved was stolen.