In a night that has shaken the Tarneit community, three Indian Australian men were injured in what police believe was a targeted shooting stemming from an altercation between two groups.
The Armed Crime Squad is currently investigating the incident, which unfolded in various locations across Tarneit late last night and early this morning.
The sequence of events began shortly before 11:50 p.m. on Tuesday, 19 March, when police were alerted to gunshots in Friendship Place, Tarneit.
Despite an extensive search of the area, no victims were initially found. The situation escalated when, a short time later, a 23-year-old man from Truganina was discovered with suspected gunshot wounds to his upper body at a business on Derrimut Road. He was rushed to the hospital with injuries deemed non-life-threatening.
The violence did not stop there. Just after 1:00 a.m., emergency services were summoned to Tarneit Road, where a 25-year-old local man received treatment for a hand injury before being taken to the hospital.
In a related event, a 28-year-old man from Tarneit self-presented to a Melbourne hospital around 3:00 a.m. with an arm injury. Police have linked both men to the initial shooting on Friendship Place.
Detectives are piecing together the circumstances of the altercation, treating the incident as targeted with all parties involved known to each other. The McDonald’s carpark on Derrimut Road became a focal point of the investigation, locked down overnight as officers examined a damaged Mercedes and collected evidence.
As of now, no arrests have been made, and no weapon has been recovered. Victoria Police are urging anyone who witnessed the incident or has relevant dash-cam footage to come forward.
This incident has prompted a broader discussion about community safety and the need for vigilance. The police are determined to uncover the exact sequence of events and hold those responsible accountable for their actions.
The investigation continues, with the hope that further information from the public will shed light on this concerning series of events. Information can be shared anonymously through Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
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