A quiet street in Bacchus Marsh has been rocked by the shooting death of a resident this morning
Emergency services were called to the Labilliere Street townhouse just before 8.20am after neighbours reported hearing arguing followed by gunshots.
It’s believed a man in the driver’s seat of a white van sustained a gunshot to the head.
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Detective senior sergeant Steve McIntyre said police are looking for the driver of a silver SUV which was seen speeding away from the scene.
“We understand that around that time witnesses had seen a silver SUV vehicle pull up…and an offender has approached the driver’s side of that vehicle and shot the deceased while he was sitting in the front driver’s seat,” he said.
“The silver SUV that was seen decamping from the scene was last seen travelling at a fast speed in a southerly direction along McCrae St.
“We’ve commenced investigations into who this offender is and we make an appeal for the driver of that vehicle to make himself known to the police.
“We have had reports of an argument, or a dispute that was occurring in the street in the hour prior to this incident. Whether that is connected to the shooting, we’re keeping an open mind.”
Detective senior sergeant McIntyre said number of witnesses were providing statements at Bacchus Marsh police station and the deceased had not been formally identified.
He said it was an “isolated and confined” incident and that the public should not be concerned.
Nearby Bacchus Marsh College was locked down for a short time this morning as a precaution.
“It’s a disturbing thing for any shooting at this time of day in a residential setting. It’s going to be something that will have a large local impact,” Detective senior sergeant McIntyre said.
“The deceased will have friends and relatives who are unaware of his death and … they will be in shock and they will be mourning.”
The victim’s landlady, Daniyelle Bartlett, told Star Weekly that she awoke to the news of the shooting.
“He had been our tenant for about two years,” she said.
“I’m in shock.
“My husband and I sold him that van but we weren’t very close to him.
“He is a very private man and very much a loner. I don’t think he had many friends but there were a lot of women in his life.”
Mrs Bartlett said the victim was a father of five and was unemployed.
Anyone who witnessed the incident or with further information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential crime report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
