Qld shooting was targeted, police say

A masked gang who shot two men at a home east of Brisbane were carrying out a targeted attack.

Queensland police say the trio wearing balaclavas and brandishing baseball bats smashed their way into the property in Murrarie around 3.40am on Sunday.

A 41-year-man who was believed to be the target of the robbery was shot in the leg, while a 61-year-old man was shot in the shoulder as he tried to go to the aid of his friend.

The older victim had confronted the gang with a shovel and knocked one to the ground when a scuffle broke out and a shot was fired.

"It's simply just a matter of luck that that shot hit him in the shoulder and not in the middle of the eyes and we're not here discussing a murder today," acting Detective Superintendent Geoff Sheldon told reporters.

"It's been a very, very violent event."

He added that there was an "amateurish aspect" to the robbery, with the second gunshot believed to be fired in panic.

The three escaped empty-handed by jumping a number of fences along Murrarie Road before it's believed they got into a waiting car.

Both injured men are recovering at Princess Alexandra Hospital and are due to undergo surgery.