NT Police use rubber bullets, tear gas as fury at suspected killer boils over at Alice Springs Hospital

Giovanni Torre
Giovanni Torre Published April 30, 2026 at 10.30pm (AWST)

NT Police have fired rubber bullets and tear gas into a crowd of protesters outside Alice Springs Hospital following the arrest of Jefferson Lewis.

The 47-year-old suspect in the kidnapping and killing of five-year-old Kumanjayi Little Baby was found at Charles Creek, on the northern outskirts of Mparntwe / Alice Springs, o Thursday night.

Locals said Lewis was beaten before being apprehended by police.

He was taken to the hospital where the crowd, reportedly of people from the town and surrounding remote communities, gathered around 10pm.

On videos posted on social media members of the crowd can be heard calling out: "Bring that motherf***er out", "Shoot him", "F****g shoot the c**t", "Bring him out here", "Bring him for us".

NT Police used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the crowd after protesters smashed police car windows.

Members of the crowd set police cars on fire as the officers tried to move the crowd on.

Kumajayi Little Baby was reported missing early on Sunday morning. A massive search was carried out, ultimately finding the young girl's body on Thursday afternoon by the Todd River.

NT Police outside Alice Springs Hospital. Image: Sam Mooy (Fairfax / Nine).

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National Indigenous Times

Disclaimer: This function is AI-generated and therefore may mispronounce.