Three charged after alleged shooting and burglary in Melbourne

Three people have been charged after a shooting, roadside stand-off and burglary in Melbourne’s north.

Police were called to reports of a car crash in Jacana about 3.30pm yesterday, but quickly realised the situation also involved a firearm and machete.

“These c---s’ f------ got a machete and this c---’s got a shotgun shooting, holy s---,” a witness said.

A shirtless man had allegedly wandered Bliburg Street armed with a machete, while an injured passenger hid in the back of a white van.

Tristan Donoghue, 26, allegedly attacked the 68-year-old driver of the van and smashed its windows.

Police allege the 68-year-old driver then opened fire.

“The guy, he was just staying in the van, he wasn’t coming out. He was just screaming ‘get the police here’,” witness Mehmed Karakus said.

Another witness said the situation was very dangerous.

“I was very scared for every single person around, like there was a bus going past as well, there was a kid on the other side,” Furkan Ozcelik said.

Police arrived at the scene and arrested three people, including Mr Donoghue, who had to be subdued with capsicum spray.

Detectives believe yesterday’s altercation related to a burglary at a Bliburg Street home on Saturday.

The 68-year-old van driver and five other men had allegedly broken into a house and assaulted Mr Donoghue and his wife Lisa. Their two children were also home at the time, but were uninjured.

The van driver has since been charged with aggravated burglary and possessing a handgun.

Mr Donoghue was charged with making threats to kill, assault with a weapon, criminal damage and resist police arrest, and has been refused bail.

His wife, 35, was also charged with reckless conduct endangering serious injury.

The shooting is the fifth in Melbourne in the past week, and has prompted Victoria Police to establish an illicit firearms investigation team.

“We know that criminals are getting more access to firearms and it’s on that basis that we’re deploying staff into this area,” Deputy Commissioner Shane Patton said.