The son of a former Victoria Police officer was shot dead in a laneway execution in Wollert on Thursday.
Athan Boursinos, 21, was killed while getting into his car in the lane behind Champions Parade, Wollert about 9am on Thursday, July 31.
Despite the best efforts of emergency services to revive Boursinos, he died at the scene after eight shots were fired.
Police understand the underworld figure was on his way to appear in court on drugs, weapons, theft and driving charges, which is public knowledge via online court lists.
Hit men who gunned down a suspected associate of underworld tobacco boss Kazeen “Kaz” Hamad – due to the public nature of court lists – may have known their target was due to face court, Detective Inspector Dean Thomas, of the Homicide Squad, told reporters.
“Detectives believe the shooting was a targeted attack.
“It appears very deliberate and obviously targeted, so we’re open to all the possibilities,” Detective Inspector Dean Thomas said.
Boursinos was a person of interest during an investigation that followed the death of Sam Abdulrahim. He was involved with street gangs.
The suspected gunman fled the scene in a vehicle before a burnt-out car was found on Army St in Reservoir later Thursday morning.
Police are still working to determine whether the car is connected to the shooting.
The latest underworld killing is under investigation, with the perpetrator still at large.
One neighbour told reporters the incident, which unfolded near a kindergarten, was “very concerning”.
“At the time of day as well, with mums dropping their kids off at their playgroup, that’s pretty alarming,” she said.
