A 36-year-old Venn man is in police custody after he allegedly shot dead another man, who had escaped from a rehabilitation facility, in a house at Cutta Cutta caves south of Katherine on Wednesday night, sources have told the NT Independent.

Detective Senior Sergeant Jakson Evans told the media Thursday afternoon that about 4am a man intruded into a house about 30km south of Katherine in the Venn area close, to Cutta Cutta caves, where police found the body of a man, who appeared to have died of a gun shot wound, on the floor.

He said a 36-year-old resident of the house had been taken to the Katherine watchhouse but police were still investigating, so had not made any determination if the man would be charged.

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

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

He said they could not say how many shots were fired but said police and St John Ambulance paramedics gave mouth-to-mouth.

Snr Sgt Evans said the residents – a man and a woman, and two children – were home at the time but could not say if the adults were a couple.

As the scene was still being processed by police, there was a lot of detail that could not be released, he said.

Sources told the NT Independent the man in custody allegedly shot the man after he intruded into the house on Wednesday night, where his wife, who is a ranger, was at home with their baby.

Another source said the dead man escaped from the Venndale rehabilitation facility, and was allegedly shot once.

The sources said the incident happened at the ranger station house at Cutta Cutta Caves about 32km south of Katherine on the Stuart Highway.

Editor’s note. A previous version of this article said the man who allegedly shot the intruder was a ranger. This is not correct. The NT Independent apologises for the error.