Point Lonsdale man, 55, charged and set to face court over daylight shooting in coastal town
A man is fighting for life after being shot in the quiet coastal town of Point Lonsdale, amid reports of rising neighbourhood tensions in an exclusive street.
A man is fighting for life after being shot in the quiet coastal enclave of Point Lonsdale, amid reports of rising neighbourhood tensions in an exclusive street.
The 37-year-old Point Lonsdale man is in a critical condition at The Alfred hospital.
He presented to a medical clinic in the small Bellarine Peninsula town reportedly yelling “I’ve been shot, I’ve been shot” about 10.30am on Thursday, before being treated by doctors and flown to Melbourne by air ambulance.
The alleged shooter, a 55-year-old Point Lonsdale man, was arrested at a property in Gill Rd shortly before 11am.
Armed Crime Squad detectives have since charged the man with intentionally causing serious injury, reckless conduct endangering life, using an unregistered firearm, use of a firearm in a dangerous manner and using a firearm in the commission of an offence.
He will face Geelong Magistrates Court on Friday.
Detectives converged on the medical centre as part of their investigation and have also swarmed well-heeled Gill Rd, where they cordoned off a home.
A witness who had been visiting the medical clinic said she saw the man curled up on the ground out the front “in the foetal position”, writhing in pain.
“Help, I’ve been shot, I’ve been shot,” the witness recalled him shouting.
Several police units converged on Gill Rd, which abuts the Point Lonsdale Golf Club, following the shooting.
The street, which is lined with coastal shrub and expensive homes, is just a short drive from the medical centre where the man was treated.
The oval he was choppered from is next to the clinic.
Gill Rd residents reacted with shock to the daylight shooting, as details emerged about an ongoing dispute between neighbours.
Across the road from the taped-off house, the words “you can’t hide biatch (sic)” have been scrawled in yellow paint on a garage door.
Neighbour George Joynson, 87, said there had been an ongoing tension between the occupants of that property and the home where the crime scene had been established.
Mr Joynson’s son, Mick, said the shooting in the quiet street was “disconcerting.”
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Originally published as Point Lonsdale man, 55, charged and set to face court over daylight shooting in coastal town
