Rodney District police have launched a homicide investigation after a young Warkworth woman was fatally shot and found outside a medical centre this afternoon.
Police say the woman, aged about 20, was driven from her Percy Street home about 2pm by a man believed to be in his early 20s.
The man was now being questioned by police.
It was understood the couple had been in a relationship. A firearm was found at the scene.
Inspector Keith Brady told a press conference at the Warkworth Fire Station today, the man in custody was known to police.
He said it appeared the man drove the deceased to the medical centre seeking help, but the woman was dead by the time doctors arrived at his car in the carpark.
"We don't believe anyone else is involved, but we are in the early stages of this investigation so we can't confirm this yet."
No one else was threatened in the incident.
Eight detectives and 10 general duties officers were working at two crime scenes in Warkworth - the medical centre, in Neville Street, and a Percy Street residence.
Mr Brady said he hoped to have the medical centre scene cleared tonight so a post mortem could be conducted tomorrow morning.
The woman's name will not be released until next-of-kin have been notified.
- NZPA
