Detectives from Taskforce Lunar have today released CCTV as part of their investigation into the shooting of a man in Jacana just after 12pm on May 7, 2024.
Police were called to reports that a man had been shot on the Metropolitan (M80) Ring Road.
Responding officers were unable to locate the man. Police were notified a man had presented to hospital in Parkville with gunshot wounds.
The 51-year-old Truganina man was treated for life-threatening upper body injuries.
Detectives, led by Detective Inspector Graham Banks, believe the victim had been driving his vehicle from the Wyndham area towards Broadmeadows when he stopped at traffic lights at the intersection of the Western Ring Road and Pascoe Vale Road.
“This incident occurred in the middle of the day and the consequences of this shooting could have been far more extreme. You can see in the CCTV that this was the middle of the day, with a number of other cars around at the time, and an innocent member of the public could have easily been killed or seriously injured,” Det. Insp. Banks said.
It’s alleged a vehicle pulled alongside him and the victim was shot by the occupants of that vehicle.
The victim was conveyed to the hospital by family members.
CCTV shows a grey Ford Falcon with false registration plates pulling up next to the victim’s dark-coloured Mercedes wagon before a shot is fired into the car.
Investigators also believe a white Holden Commodore which does a small burn out then turns left in front of the grey Ford is also linked to the incident.
Police are keen to identify those who were travelling in the vehicles, as well as the current location of the two cars.
“While we have charged two people in relation to this incident, we believe there are others out there who have had some involvement in this shooting. This includes both the execution and planning of the attack,” Det. Insp. Banks said.
Earlier this month, detectives from Taskforce Lunar charged two men concerning the incident.
A 30-year-old man and a 26-year-old man, both from Truganina, were arrested with the assistance of the Special Operations Group on Thursday, December 19.
Both men were interviewed and have since been charged with attempted murder, intentionally causing serious injury in circumstances of gross violence, reckless conduct endangering life, prohibited person possessing a firearm, a prohibited person using a firearm and other offences.
Police will allege the targeted shooting took place as a result of a dispute over allegiances, linked to two key organised crime syndicates involved in the illicit tobacco trade.
While two people have been charged, police believe several other people were involved in the shooting and the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Police are keen to identify those people and are appealing for anyone with any knowledge of the shooting and those involved to come forward.
The investigation remains ongoing.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
