Victoria police believe a man found dead with gunshot wounds on a suburban driveway was an alleged home invader who was shot after a struggle.
A search was under way for up to three others wanted over the violence in what detectives suggest was a targeted attack at a home in Donnybrook about 30km north of Melbourne’s CBD.
Det Insp Graham Banks said on Sunday that three or four offenders armed with at least one handgun and a machete forced their way into the Middlemount Street home at about 4.20am.
At least one of the men allegedly assaulted a female resident with a knife before a male resident confronted the group, he said.
“There’s been some sort of struggle and a firearm has been claimed off one of the offenders who has come to the house,” Banks told reporters. “Shortly after that several shots have taken place.”
The deceased man, who was yet to be identified, was found in the driveway by police and a window at the home appeared to have been smashed.
Later, another man with gunshot wounds presented to Northern hospital in Epping before being transported to the Royal Melbourne hospital for surgery.
Detectives were working to establish whether he was involved but Victoria police said he was a person of interest due to the time he turned up at the hospital.
The injured female resident was receiving medical attention and the male resident was assisting with the investigation.
A firearm was found at Kumalie Drive in Doreen about 20km away, police said.
“It’s quite a shocking incident but as I say, we do not believe it is related to anything beyond that household,” Banks said. He said one of the Donnybrook residents was known to police.
