Homicide Squad detectives have today arrested two boys as part of their investigation into a number of incidents where shots were fired in Hampton Park in April, including the fatal shooting of Aaron Toth.
A 17-year-old Doveton boy and a 15-year-old Narre Warren boy were arrested this morning and interviewed by police in relation to arson incidents connected to the shootings.
The Doveton boy has been charged with two counts of arson relating to the allegedly deliberate burning of the stolen Ford Ranger utility on 27 April in Berwick, as well as the burning of a Mazda 3 believed to be connected to the matters.
Detectives believe the Ford Ranger utility was the vehicle used by the offenders during the fatal shooting of Aaron Toth in Hampton Park.
That vehicle was set alight a short time later, and police allege that a number of people left the scene of that incident in the Mazda 3.
The Doveton boy has also been charged by detectives from the Southern Metropolitan Crime Team in relation to a number of unrelated matters. Those charges include home invasion (x2), aggravated burglary (x4), attempted aggravated burglary (x4), burglary (x2), trespass (x5) and theft of motor vehicle (x14).
He will appear at a children’s court today.
The 15-year-old Narre Warren boy has been released pending further enquiries.
At this time police do not believe the pair were directly involved in the fatal shooting.
Yesterday, Homicide squad detectives were joined by Aaron Toth’s family in appealing for information about the series of incidents in Hampton Park earlier this year.
In the first incident, a stolen black Audi Q7 SUV, a black Volkswagen Golf GTI hatchback and a white Toyota Camry sedan are captured on CCTV driving at a fast rate of speed along the Parkway in Hampton Park at 9.21pm on Friday, 26 April.
The black Volkswagen drives onto the grassland, at which point the sound of two gunshots can be heard before all three vehicles speed away from the area.
At 10.50pm, a stolen white Mitsubishi Outlander SUV is captured on CCTV chasing a stolen black Audi Q7 through Andrew Street, David Street and Jeffrey Street in Hampton Park.
As the vehicles travel at high speeds on Jeffrey Street, a person can be seen on CCTV leaning out of the passenger side window of the white Mitsubishi Outlander and firing a shot as it drives behind the black Audi Q7.
The sound of 14 gunshots can subsequently be heard.
At 11.36pm, the black Audi Q7 is driven into the driveway of a residential premises on Grammar Way in Hampton Park.
Two men, both wearing light coloured pants and hooded tops, exit the vehicle carrying jerry cans.
Both men empty the jerry cans onto the Audi, before setting it alight and fleeing the scene in a dark coloured sedan waiting nearby.
That vehicle has not yet been identified.
At 12.24am on Saturday, 27 April, 30-year-old Aaron Toth was fatally shot inside his vehicle parked outside a residential address on Bride Avenue in Hampton Park.
Investigators have established he had travelled alone from Melbourne CBD and only arrived at the address a minute earlier.
Aaron had no involvement in the earlier incidents in the Hampton Park area and his death is being treated as a case of mistaken identity.
CCTV has captured a stolen grey Ford Ranger utility turning left from Pound Road into Bride Avenue, before travelling south on Bride Avenue.
Occupants from the vehicle discharge shots into his vehicle as they drive past, fatally wounding Aaron.
A 21-year-old Cranbourne North man was charged with murder on Saturday, 29 June and is currently remanded in custody
At 2.27am, the white Mitsubishi Outlander and the grey Ford Ranger utility drove in convoy to Sweeney Reserve, Berwick.
At 2.32 am, the grey Ford Ranger utility is set alight. At 2.34 am, the white Mitsubishi Outlander flees the scene.
Investigators are of the belief that all of these incidents are linked and that there are still people involved who have not yet been identified.
The only vehicle not yet recovered is the black Volkswagen Golf GTI hatchback, the whereabouts of which are unknown.
The investigation into the series remains ongoing.
Police are urging anyone with any knowledge of those involved or the whereabouts of the black Golf to come forward and speak to police or submit an anonymous report via Crime Stoppers.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
