Amnesty International says its experts have verified images and footage from the Good Friday shooting on Manus Island that confirm bullets were fired directly into the immigration processing centre.
The human rights group says the digital verification, expected to be released on Monday, contradicts initial claims made by Australian immigration officials and Papua New Guinea police suggesting soldiers only fired bullets into the air.
Immigration Minister Peter Dutton has repeatedly stated PNG soldiers opened fire on the centre because they were concerned about the welfare of a young boy who was allegedly led into the compound.
The PNG government, meanwhile, says an investigation into the Good Friday shooting is ongoing.
But Amnesty says the Australian government has failed to take responsibility for people's lives, arguing Mr Dutton sought to diminish the seriousness of the shooting.
"Instead of waiting for the results of an investigation, (Mr) Dutton has inflamed matters by making an irresponsible and unfounded claim about the shooting incident," Amnesty's Kate Schuetze said.
"For him then to try and connect (the incident involving the boy), weeks later, to drunken soldiers shooting at a refugee centre is reckless in the extreme and will put the lives of people there at even greater risk."
Refugees have lodged a complaint with Australian authorities about Mr Dutton's comments and are urging the release of CCTV footage they say will exonerate them.
Amnesty has renewed its calls for the detention centre on Manus Island to be shut down.
"Until that system is dismantled and the refugees are brought to safety, the threat to their lives will remain," Ms Schuetze said.
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