Man undergoes surgery after being shot during alleged Queensland drive-by shooting

A man was found with a chest wound after an alleged drive-by shooting on the Gold Coast early this morning.

Police said three men were walking along Ferny Avenue, Surfers Paradise, when a gun was fired at them from a passing car around 4.30am.

Superintendent Scott Knowles said a single gunshot was fired. It is believed a non-lethal bird shot round was used.

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"It doesn't appear to have been a normal shotgun round," Knowles said.

"It certainly caused significant injuries but... it's not as critical as what it could have been."

A 20-year-old Brisbane man suffered a non-life-threatening chest wound and was taken to hospital where he has since undergone surgery.

While doctors were unable to remove all of the shrapnel, they said he is expected to survive.

No one else was injured.

Investigators are trying to determine if that victim was known to the shooter however Knowles said there is no clear motive yet.

"It doesn't appear that the victim or friends knew anyone that was causing problems," Knowles said.

"There doesn't appear to be any rhyme or reason why this incident occurred."

A crime scene was declared on Ferny Avenue.

After the shooting, Knowles said the suspected car "did a U-turn and fled up Ferny Avenue toward Southport, then drove out onto the M1 motorway and headed north".

Police found the car, believed to be linked to the alleged drive-by shooting, engulfed in flames a short time later.

Knowles said the car had been stolen from Murrumba Downs on September 29.

He appealed for anyone with dashcam footage of the car with the number plate 160EQ9 and "evolve" written on the side to come forward.

He added there may have been more than one person in the car.

"I would hazard a guess there was more than one whoever it is that discharged the firearm came out the passenger side," he said.

Investigations are continuing.