Detectives from the Armed Crime Squad are today releasing CCTV footage as part of their investigation into a series of incidents last year culminating in a man being shot in Altona North.
A 50-year-old Altona North left his property on Fourth Avenue shortly before 7.40pm on Sunday, 15 October 2023.
As he goes through his front gate, a gold Mitsubishi Pajero 4WD is seen on CCTV driving towards the man and pulls up nearby.
Several shots are discharged, leading to the man hiding behind a nearby car.
It’s also believed one of the bullets grazed his hand.
Footage then shows a man chasing the victim along the street before shooting him in the arm.
The man then gets back into the gold Mitsubishi Pajero and the vehicle leaves the scene.
The victim was subsequently taken to hospital by a friend and treated for non-life threatening injuries.
Emergency services were called to a vehicle fire on Gill Street, Reservoir about 8.20pm that night and investigators believe the vehicle set alight was the same one used by the offenders during the shooting.
It’s also believed the vehicle had been stolen from a residential property in Ferntree Gully on 29 September and was bearing number plates stolen in Berwick on 10 October.
Detectives from the Armed Crime Squad are investigating and have today released CCTV from the shooting, as well as footage of the Pajero driving through an intersection on Blackshaws Road in Altona.
Footage is also being released of the car fire in Reservoir, which shows what’s believed to be a white Mercedes leaving the scene.
Police believe the offenders for the shooting and fire were travelling in this vehicle.
It’s not known how many people in total were involved in the incidents on the night or if those people were also responsible for the vehicle and numberplate thefts in the south-east suburbs.
Police have also determined the Pajero travelled from the south eastern suburbs into metropolitan Melbourne on 10 October.
Detectives are treating the shooting as targeted, however believe it may be a case of mistaken identity.
They are keen to speak to anyone who has knowledge of the shooting in Altona North, the car fire in Reservoir or the thefts in Ferntree Gully or Berwick.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
Quotes attributable to Detective Inspector Adam Tilley, Armed Crime Squad:
“Any incident with a firearm being used indiscriminately in public is concerning, however it is particularly alarming to see the victim deliberately chased.
“Over the past seven months, detectives have followed up a number of leads in the hope of finding out who was responsible for the shooting and other associated incidents.
“At this stage we haven’t been able to establish a motive for the shooting and are looking at the possibility that it may have been a case of mistaken identity. We’ve not been able to find any reason why the victim would have been targeted in this way.
“We’re hoping that by releasing this CCTV today, it may lead to further avenues of enquiry for investigators.
“Police are particularly keen to speak to anyone with knowledge about those involved in the shooting and subsequent car fire.
“Detectives are also interested in speaking to anyone with information about the earlier thefts in Ferntree Gully and Berwick, as we are looking to establish if the same offenders have been involved in all incidents.
“As always, information can be provided to police anonymously.”
