Police have launched a manhunt after a 22-year-old man was shot and killed in Melbourne’s north on Sunday night.
Emergency services rushed to Victoria Drive in Thomastown shortly after 7.30pm on September 6, finding the victim near the entrance of HR Uren Reserve.
Efforts were made to revive the man before he was declared dead at the scene.
The victim has since been identified as 22-year-old Daniel Hussein.
A devastated Taleb Hussein visited the scene of his son’s death on Monday morning, revealing the 22-year-old was a plumber who was due to be married in just a few weeks.
It is understood Mr Hussein attended HR Uren Reserve with two friends.
The victim’s father told 9News that Mr Hussein had called his brother and told him he was being followed by a black Porsche shortly before he was shot.
A neighbour who asked not to be named told The Herald Sun that he had watched the incident unfold after hearing the sounds of a fight.
“I saw a black SUV drive into the carpark, then I heard the commotion,” they said.
The neighbour said that after he heard yelling, the SUV reversed out of the driveway before Mr Hussein jumped onto the bonnet, kicking the vehicle before falling off.
He then walked towards the footpath before collapsing.
They said it was unclear at what point he had been shot.
It is understood the victim’s two friends had called the ambulance, while his brother had arrived at the scene 10 minutes later.
Mr Hussein’s uncle Abdallah paid tribute to his nephew in a post on Facebook, writing that the pain of losing him was “enormous” and his grief was “beyond words”.
“I remember the day I carried you at Epping Hospital shortly after you were born… you weighed only a few pounds,” he said.
“I watched you grow from that little boy I carried into the hospital, into the beautiful young man you became.
“You were not only my nephew. You were a piece of my heart. A part of my life. A child I helped carry into this world, and someone I thought would be there until the end of mine.
“I always believed that one day, when my time comes, you would be the one carrying me to my grave. I never imagined that I would have to say goodbye to you first.”
In a post on social media, a witness to the shooting said they had been left feeling “terrified”.
“I was there, I had to run and call the police,” they said.
“I saw it all. I was terrified. Saw him get shot right in front of me!”
Homicide Squad detectives are investigating the circumstances of the shooting but no arrests have yet been made.
Anyone who witnessed the incident or has CCTV or dashcam footage is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online.
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