Cranbourne east father shot in front of daughter during random attack outside melbourne home 20240826 p5z5oy.html – Breaking News & Latest Updates 2026
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Dad shot after waiting to confront man following daughter home in Melbourne

Allanah Sciberras

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A father remains in an induced coma after being shot when he confronted a man he believed was following his daughter in Melbourne's south-east overnight.

Police said the 21-year-old daughter was driving in Cranbourne East about 12.25am when she noticed an unknown man trailing her inside a white station wagon.

She quickly called her father, Victor, who told her to head to their home, where he waited outside for her.

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Victor Valla remains in an induced coma. Nine

Detective Acting Superintendent Mick Daly said the white station wagon followed the woman home. Mr Valla then approached the car and an altercation occurred.

"The father has gone out to confront the person in the other vehicle and after an altercation, the driver shot the father," Daly said during a press conference.

The 58-year-old was shot in the abdomen and the man fled the scene in the white station wagon.

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The shooting unfolded outside the victim's Benedetto Court home. Nine

The daughter called triple zero and neighbours helped Mr Valla before he was taken to hospital with serious but non-life threatening injuries.

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He was this afternoon in a critical but stable condition.

Mr Valla's ex-wife said the shooting was unprovoked.

"My daughter watched it all," she said.

"She was saying, 'Dad, Dad, don't go'. My daughter was left holding her dad's hand.

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"She [told me], 'Dad almost lost his life for me', it's crazy, it was a young boy with the gun."

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There was a siginifcant police presence outside the home today. Nine

Police are treating the shooting as a random attack and do not believe they were known to each other.

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"We don't know why she was targeted herself and why the offender shot the father," Daly said.

Police said another carjacking and stabbing that occurred in Cranbourne East were not related.

Detectives are keen to speak to anyone who has information about the incident or who may have witnessed any suspicious activity in the area, particularly involving a white vehicle.

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