Rapper Pal Bidong allegedly shot by a friend after heated argument, police confront wall of silence

Budding rapper Pal Bidong was allegedly shot by one of his friends over a disagreement but his associates are refusing to tell police who the killer is, it has been claimed.

Young rapper Pal Bidong was gunned down by one of his friends over a disagreement but his associates are refusing to tell police who the killer is, it has been claimed.

Mr Bidong’s family and friends on Monday held a meeting with leaders of Victoria’s South Sudanese community to collectively mourn and seek answers over his public murder.

Those leaders say the rapper, who was known as Peezy, was shot and killed by one of his friends during a heated argument as they left a nearby Halloween rave.

Mr Bidong, aged in his early 20s, died from at least one gunshot wound on Langford St in North Melbourne about 3.15am on Saturday.

His killer remains on the run.

Pal Bidong was shot dead in North Melbourne. Picture: supplied.

Chairman of the South Sudanese Community Association Andrew Ohide, who attended Monday’s meeting, said Mr Bidong’s loved ones said it was a “friend” who killed him.

“They had some arguments previously but it was just two individuals, there are no gangs,” he told the Herald Sun.

“They were friends, they (went) to the nightclub together, they know each other, they’re friends.

“It was a disagreement among themselves and it is not the first time they disagreed.”

It is unclear what the disagreement was over but it was the second incident between the pair in recent months.

Mr Ohide said there were people present on that fateful night who knew the shooter’s identity.

Police examine the scene on Langford St after the fatal shooting. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

But he said they were unwilling to co-operate with authorities.

“They know themselves who did it but they’re very resistant, they don’t want to tell who did it, they said they’d leave it to the police,” he added.

“They have an idea and they know who did it.”

Mr Ohide said claims of an “East v West” gang feud were completely incorrect.

Mr Ohide dismissed any suggestion of a retaliation attack.

He said there were also “no links at all” to a pair of violent home invasions in Melton on Sunday night.

Saturday’s deadly shooting is believed to have sparked an ugly street brawl. Source 7News

“That is absolutely not true, there are no gangs,” he added.

“There were no grievances, no gangs or groupings.

“They have gone too far by using weapons, we absolutely criticise that, we condemn it.

“We are in Australia, it is a peaceful country, if you have any problems, the police are 24-hours.”

Authorities continue the battle against those who refuse to co-operate with detectives.

Many victims of non-fatal shootings and some of their associates choose not to talk with investigators as they fear retribution down the track.

Saturday’s deadly shooting is believed to have sparked an ugly street brawl as police attempted to preserve the crime scene.

Investigations into the attack are ongoing.

Originally published as Rapper Pal Bidong allegedly shot by a friend after heated argument, police confront wall of silence