Homicide detectives are investigating after a man was shot dead in Thomastown, in Melbourne’s north, on Sunday night.
Emergency services were called to Victoria Drive shortly after 7:30pm on September 6 following reports that a man had been shot outside a property. Despite attempts to revive him, he was declared dead at the scene.
Victoria Police said the victim had not yet been formally identified when the investigation was announced. No arrests had been made as of early Monday, and detectives appealed for witnesses and people with relevant footage to come forward.
Homicide detectives examine the scene
The Homicide Squad is leading the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the fatal shooting. Police remained at the location as investigators began examining the scene and gathering material that could help establish the sequence of events.
Authorities have not publicly disclosed the victim’s age or identity. They have also not released a description of any suspect, identified a possible motive or said whether the people involved were known to one another.
Those unanswered questions are expected to form a central part of the inquiry. Detectives will seek to determine who was present in the area, how the shooting unfolded and where the person responsible went afterwards.
Police investigations at this stage commonly draw on physical evidence, witness accounts and footage from homes, businesses or vehicles. In this case, Victoria Police has specifically asked anyone with CCTV or dashcam vision connected to the incident to contact investigators.
Appeal for witnesses and footage
Victoria Drive runs through a mixed residential area of Thomastown, about 15 kilometres north of Melbourne’s central business district. Footage recorded before or after the emergency response may assist police even if it does not show the shooting itself.
Investigators are urging people who were in the vicinity on Sunday evening to review any available recordings and report information they believe may be relevant. Drivers, residents and visitors could hold details that help police trace movements around the scene.
Anyone who witnessed the incident, has CCTV or dashcam footage, or knows something about the death can contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report through the Crime Stoppers Victoria website.
Police have not announced any immediate threat to the wider public. However, with no arrest made and limited details released, the investigation remains active.
Formal identification still pending
The formal identification process is an important step before authorities release a deceased person’s name. It also allows police to ensure relatives have been notified before further personal information is made public.
Until that process is completed, police are referring to the victim only as a man. Further details are likely to depend on the progress of the investigation and what can be released without affecting inquiries.
The shooting prompted a major emergency response on Sunday night and became the subject of a homicide investigation shortly afterwards. Detectives have not indicated when the scene examination will be completed or when another public update may be issued.
Investigation remains at an early stage
The absence of an arrest does not indicate the direction of the inquiry, and police have cautioned only that their work is continuing. No person has been charged, and no allegation has been tested in court.
For investigators, the immediate priority is to identify the victim formally, reconstruct the events around 7:30pm and locate evidence that may point to the shooter. Community information can be particularly important during the first hours of a homicide inquiry, when memories are fresh and private recordings may still be readily available.
Police are expected to provide further information if the victim is identified, a suspect is located or detectives determine that a broader public warning is required. For now, authorities are asking the public to avoid speculation and provide relevant information directly to Crime Stoppers.
