Date Time
Police lay charges after Newcastle fatal shooting – Homicide Squad
Homicide Squad detectives have charged a man with murder following an investigation into the fatal shooting of another man at Newcastle last month.
About 12.45pm on Thursday 22 July 2021, emergency services were called to a unit at Darby St, Cooks Hill, following reports of shots fired.
Upon arrival, police located a 40-year-old man inside the unit with a gunshot wound to the chest.
Despite the efforts of emergency services, he died at the scene.
The man has been formally identified as Wesley ‘Wes’ Prentice from Rutherford.
Officers from Newcastle City Police District commenced inquiries, before detectives from the State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad took carriage of the investigation under Strike Force Hibbard.
A man has been charged with murder, following a fatal shooting at Cooks Hill last month.
Emergency crews were called to a Darby Street unit just before 1pm on July 22, after nearby residents reported hearing gunshots.
Inside the unit, they found a 40-year-old man with a gunshot wound to his chest, who was in cardiac arrest.
Paramedics tried to revive him, but he died at the scene.
After extensive investigations from the State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad, the 35-year-old was arrested near a caravan park at Bonny Hills – near Port Macquarie – just before 6pm on August 1.
During a search of the caravan, officers say they found a loaded firearm and cash.