UPDATED: An 18-year-old who allegedly stabbed a Nightcliff supermarket owner to death on Wednesday after a dispute over stolen goods has been charged with murder, NT Police said.

The teen was on bail at the time of the stabbing for serious violent offences and had been ordered to remain in a remote community. Police said he was not required to wear an ankle monitoring device.

Police said on Thursday evening that the male had been charged with one count of murder.

71-year-old Linford Feick was stabbed to death in his Nightcliff supermarket on Wednesday afternoon after confronting an unknown male who was stealing items from the shop, NT Police said Wednesday night, with detectives suggesting they believed they knew the identity of the attacker but were still searching for him as of 8pm.

Police allege that around 5:15pm Wednesday, the 18-year-old was confronted by Mr Feick at the Nightcliff Friendly Grocer on Progress Drive after stealing items.

The teen then allegedly stabbed the owner and fled the scene on a bicycle, sparking a police manhunt.

“Patrons inside the shop provided initial first aid and immediately contacted police,” police media director Mark Wilton said in a statement around 8pm Wednesday night.

“Emergency Services responded immediately and attended the scene where CPR was commenced, and the 71-year-old man was pronounced deceased.

“At this stage, police believe they have identified the offender, and efforts are currently underway to locate him.”

Around 12:35am Thursday, the teen turned himself into police at the Palmerston Police Station.

Police said on Thursday evening the teen has been charged with murder, and will remain in custody to appear at Darwin Local Court on Monday.

Mr Feick’s wife Margaret took to social media early this morning to work through the grief of losing her husband in the stabbing at the shop.

“I am sitting here at 3am too broken to go to sleep because my life has been shattered,” she wrote. “My beautiful husband of 51 years was stolen from me, his children and his 7 grandchildren.

“This is so hurtful. An 18-year-old kid has done this in a dreadful moment of anger because he was confronted with theft.

“The trauma it has caused to the beautiful staff who we love as family, the trauma to our beautiful customers. Linford worked so sincerely to maintain the community vibe with smiles trust and humanity. A beautiful man, a true gentleman, and my soulmate…gone forever. God bless him, RIP my darling man.”

Police are asking anyone who has information to make contact on 131 444 or make an anonymous report to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, quoting reference number P25111518.