A man has been charged with murder after allegedly driving to a beach car park, pulling out a gun and killing a teenager after a scuffle.
The 22-year-old was arrested on Friday in Newcastle after being on the run for two days following a fight between two groups of people at Bar Beach.
Police allege he exited his vehicle, opened fire on the victim and fled the scene in a white SUV.
Paramedics treated the 18-year-old man for a gunshot wound just before midnight but he died at the scene.
The SUV was found burnt out in a nearby suburb a short time later.
"This is a senseless incident, this is an incident the community won't stand for," Acting Superintendent Steve Benson said on Wednesday.
NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley, whose electorate takes in areas south of Newcastle, said the shooting was ghastly.
Police believe the fight between the two groups of people had been organised, but do not think it was linked to the shooting.
The man has been refused bail to appear before court on Saturday.