The shooting death of a young man and a fight he was involved in at the time are not directly related, police believe.

The man, believed to be 18 years old, was shot dead in a Newcastle beach carpark about 11.40pm on Wednesday.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Homicide investigation after teen shot dead at Newcastle beach carpark.

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The victim was fighting with a group of people in the Bar Beach carpark on Memorial Dr at Newcastle when a car pulled up.

“A white SUV drove up and a man armed with a firearm got out, fired, and left in the vehicle,” NSW Police said.

The teenager was found with a gunshot wound in his chest, Sunrise reports.

NSW Ambulance paramedics treated the young man but he died at the scene. He is yet to be formally identified.

The fight between two groups of people in the carpark was not directly related to the shooting, police understand.

“We don’t believe that fight was organised,” Newcastle City Police District Commander acting Superintendent Steve Benson said.

Everyone who was in the carpark at the time is being spoken to by police, including NSW Police Homicide Squad detectives, as investigations continue.

Witnesses told police the white SUV was occupied by a man and a woman.

Police and Counter-terrorism Minister Yasmin Catley said, at this stage, the attack is considered “random” but all lines of investigation are being explored.

“This kind of violence we are not used to seeing on our streets,” Catley said.

“Our hearts go out to the family and the friends and the community more broadly.”

A burnt-out car which police believe was involved was later found on Croudace Rd at Tingira Heights, about a 20-minute drive from Bar Beach.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.