A shopping precinct in Melbourne's west has become a crime scene after gunfire shattered the quiet night in Altona North. Emergency services were called to reports of a shooting outside a premises on Borrack Square just before midnight on Tuesday.
A 49-year-old man was shot outside the premises at about 11:30pm on March 17 and was transported to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
The incident triggered a rapid police response, though the suspect had already fled the scene. The offender or offenders escaped in a vehicle, which was later located on fire at the intersection of McArthurs and Chambers roads about 2:50am.
Armed Crime Squad detectives are investigating the non-fatal shooting. The deliberate nature of the incident, combined with the vehicle fire that followed, suggests police view this as more than a random act. Borrack Square, a busy shopping area in the heart of Altona North, is home to butchers, florists, cafes, and other small businesses that serve the local community.
A crime scene has been established and the investigation into the circumstances of the incident is ongoing. At this stage, police have not released details about the identity or whereabouts of the suspect or suspects, nor have they disclosed a potential motive.
For residents in the area, the shooting raises uncomfortable questions about public safety in what was previously seen as a quiet shopping precinct. The fact that the suspect's vehicle was found burning hours later suggests an attempt to destroy evidence or evade tracking.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit an online confidential report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au. Police are particularly interested in anyone who witnessed the shooting itself, or who saw the suspect's vehicle in the hours before or after the incident.
The investigation remains active, with the Armed Crime Squad treating this as a priority.