Dallas shooting victim Rahat Khan remembered as promising North Dandenong sportsman

THE man killed in a shooting death in Melbourne’s north has been remembered as a promising young sportsman.

Rahat Khan in action for Dandenong.

DANDENONG North is mourning the shock death of a respected young sportsman.

Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of 20-year-old Rahat Khan, shot in the chest in Dallas, a suburb in Melbourne’s north, on Tuesday, July 12.

The construction worker was with a male friend when he was shot about 5pm.

Police believe the shooting occurred on Dallas Drive, and that his friend drove him to a shopping centre on Millewa Cres to get help.

Passers-by and paramedics spent 20 minutes trying to save his life but he died at the scene.

Playing junior football and cricket for North Dandenong, Khan showed an ability that brought him a string of honours and the admiration of his teammates and coaches.

Khan was runner-up to teammate Clayton McCartney in the under-13 Red best and fairest in the Dandenong and District Junior Football League in 2008.

The following season he was equal second in the under-14 Blue count.

And in 2010 he represented the league and played in North Dandenong’s under-14 premiership team.

He also had premiership success on the cricket field, captaining North Dandy’s under-13 side to a grand final victory in 2008-09.

Rahat gained a mention in Craig Slocombe’s Snicks column in Leader in February, 2011, when he made his Turf 1 debut.

“Good to see North Dandenong give a talented kid a Turf 1 debut. Rahat Khan, who is still playing under-15s, stepped out against Narre Warren last Sunday and took 1-6 off five overs,’’ Slocombe wrote.

“Rahat is the brother of Javed Khan, a promising all-rounder making his way through the grades at Hawthorn-Monash University.’’

He had played two Turf 3 matches for North Dandenong last season.

Jayden Macdonald, who played football with Rahat, told Leader yesterday: “He often played ‘up’, a year above his age level, because he was such a good footballer. He was very much a part of our team as he was his own team.

“He was a club figure. Everyone at the club knew him. He was one of those people who dominated on the field, caught your eye. So as soon as you got off the field he was the one you wanted to talk to.’’

He said Rahat was Muslim and observed Ramadan during finals.

“He couldn’t have any water or eat during the day. But he soldiered on. He’d often be praying in the clubrooms before training.’’

Macdonald said the circumstances of Rahat’s death would come as a shock to everyone who knew him as a quiet and respectful young man.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.