Unintended target of Bendigo shooting was left with permanent disability
Police are desperate to find the men who shot and permanently injured a man who was in the “wrong place at the wrong time” in Bendigo, leaving him fearful for his safety.
Law & Order
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A man who was the unintended target of a shooting in Bendigo has been left permanently disabled.
John*, 45, was visiting a mate on York St when a large group of men burst into the home with a firearm about 1am on September 29.
The armed crooks demanded the location of an occupant who was not home.
The confrontation escalated and John was struck to the back of the head with the firearm before being shot in the knee.
His injuries are so severe that he will likely never walk unaided again.
“I was randomly attacked. I can’t walk. I can’t work. It’s going to impact my life for the rest of my life,” John said from his hospital bed.
“I don’t have a knee anymore.
“I will either end up in a wheelchair or on crutches for the rest of my life.”
The shooting is being investigated by Armed Crime Squad detectives.
They are probing the theory the shooting was linked to an ongoing dispute.
However, the nature of the dispute or identity of the intended target has not been revealed.
Detective Senior Sergeant Tim Hayward said this is a “life changing” injury for John.
“He was in the wrong place at the wrong time,” he said.
The firearm used in the shooting has not been located.
John holds seriously fears for his safety with the perpetrators at large almost three weeks on.
Investigators are urging anyone with information about the shooting to come forward.
John said his attackers are cowards who deserved to pay for their actions.
“I hadn’t done anything wrong. I hadn’t mouthed off or attacked them and for them to attack me, for no obvious reason, I think pretty stupid,” he said.
“I hope that there might be some thoughts that run through these people’s heads that done this that maybe it was a silly idea to hurt someone that now has to live with this. (It has impacted) my life rather severely.”
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Paramedics treated John at the address before taking him to hospital in Melbourne.
He is still undergoing treatment for his injuries.
The investigation remains ongoing and anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or crimestoppersvic.com.au.
*not his real name