CCTV shows crowd flee in shooting at Melbourne cafe
Updated . First published
CCTV has captured the moment a large group of men ran for cover as one of them was shot outside a cafe in Melbourne's south-west overnight.
Police say the shooting, outside a cafe on Borrack Square in Altona North about 11.30pm yesterday, could be connected to an illegal tobacco trade.
A large group of people were sitting outside the Cafe Squared eatery when a white Toyota Hilux drove up and shots were fired into the crowd.
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CCTV shows the moments the shots were fired and the men run into the building for cover. Supplied
Armed Crime Squad detectives are investigating a non-fatal shooting in Altona North overnight. Emergency services were called to reports a man had been shot outside a premises on Borrack Square about 11.30pm on Tuesday 17 March. Nine
CCTV shows the moments the shots were fired and the men run into the building for cover.
A 49-year-old man, who was shot twice in the arm, and was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Those involved fled the scene in a stolen silver Hilux with cloned plates, which was stolen from a Newport home in February.
Hours later, about 2.50am, the offenders torched the car and left it burning at the intersection of McArthurs and Chambers roads, about 800 metres from where the shooting took place.
The victim is known to police, but authorities are unsure whether he was the intended target.
"It may well be just a random shooting of that crowd of people to send a message," Detective Inspector Graham Banks said.
"The conflict we see at the moment is seeing random acts of violence that are directed at people who they perceive are opposing people.
"At this stage we're not ruling anything in or out as far as what the motive would be, as far as the people who were there or the location itself."
Witnesses told 9News they have no connections to the illicit tobacco trade.
A crime scene was established and the investigation was ongoing, Victoria Police said.
The shooting happened outisde a cafe at the Borrack Square shopping strip in Altona North. 9News
A burning ute was found around 800 metres from the scene of the shooting. 9News
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit an online confidential report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
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