NT Police have charged a 38-year-old man with murder after he allegedly shot a 26-year-old man dead near Cutta Cutta Caves.

Police announced the charges late Friday evening, after previously saying there were no charges.

Detective Senior Sergeant Jakson Evans said in an afternoon statement that police were investigating how the 26-year-old was shot, but gave no further details of the shooting, or the dead man, other than that his family had been notified.

But by 9pm on Friday, the murder charge had been laid.

“The man has been charged with one count of murder, and has been remanded in custody to appear before Katherine Local Court at a date that is yet to be set,” police said in a statement.

On Thursday afternoon Snr Sgt Evans said that about 4am the man allegedly intruded into a house about 30km south of Katherine in the Venn area, close to Cutta Cutta Caves. He said police found the body of a man, who appeared to have died of a gun shot wound, on the floor.

“As part of inquires at that location, a male resident of the household was arrested and remains in custody,” he said.

Snr Sgt Evans did confirm a man had escaped from the nearby Venndale rehabilitation facility but could not say if the two matters were related.

Sources told the NT Independent the home where the shooting happened was the ranger station house for the Cutta Cutta Caves national park.

“We appreciate there is a lot of public interest in this case and we assure the community we are doing everything we can to establish exactly how this incident transpired,” he said.