Family in disbelief after 76yo man shot outside home at ‘close range’

The family of a man who is recovering in hospital with a gunshot wound, said they can’t think of anyone who would want to hurt him on purpose.

A manhunt is underway for a man who allegedly shot an Australian champion dragon boat racer in the leg while he was in the front yard of his Middle Park home.

David Nairn walked out into the front of his Canterbury Rd property at 7.50pm after hearing a knock at his door and saw the front gate had been left open.

But as he stepped out of his doorway, the 76-year-old’s family said he was met with a man dressed in “painter’s overalls” with a covering on his face.

Mr Nairn was then shot at “close range” by the unknown man while his wife Catherine Urie and her daughter Claire Barnier were home.

David Nairn (left) was shot on Thursday night outside his home. His wife Catherine Urie (right) was home at the time. Picture: Facebook

Victoria Police are now on the hunt for the offender who fled the scene on foot and was last seen heading towards Albert Park Lake.

Ms Urie – a medical professional – said she heard a “gunshot and a pop sound” before she and her daughter “hurried” to the front yard.

“There was a bit of yelling,” she said.

“My daughter ran out before me, and we realised (David) was shot. We called police and an ambulance who arrived quickly.”

It’s understood Mr Nairn – a champion dragon boat racer – sustained nerve damage to his leg and requires surgery.

Mr Nairn was shot outside the family’s Middle Park home. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw

Mr Nairn’s stepdaughter Ms Barnier said her stepfather was understandably in shock after he was shot by the man.

“I said (to him) what was that, and he said ‘I think I’ve been shot’,” she said.

“I hurried and I was trying to figure out what was going on. I saw him lying on the steps grabbing his knee … he moved his leg and there was quite a bit of blood on the step underneath it.

“He couldn’t stand up and was dragging himself across the veranda … I used to be a nurse so I checked his wound and there was quite a lot of bleeding, so I tried to stop (it).”

A sniffer dog was seen searching the property’s surroundings on Friday morning. Picture: Tony Gough

Ms Barnier, who had recently had surgery herself, tended to her stepfather while Ms Urie called the police and paramedics.

While fighting back tears, Ms Barnier added her stepfather had a knee-replacement surgery a few months ago which he had just recovered from.

A sniffer dog, its handler and members of the Armed Crime Squad were observed scouring the surrounds of the property and the streets of the affluent suburb on Friday morning.

Meanwhile a blood stain remains on the concrete near the home’s front door.

When asked why her stepfather was shot, Ms Barnier said the attack could’ve been a case of mistaken identity or because their property’s lights were on.

“(Perhaps) someone wanted to shoot someone. They could see our light on from the street and everyone else’s houses were dark. I honestly don’t know,” she said.

“David is the loveliest person in the world, he would help anyone. He’s become my dad, I can’t think of anyone who’s actually wanted to hurt him on purpose.”

A blood stain remained outside the property’s front door. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw

Detective acting Inspector Chris Ellway said investigators were none the wiser as to who the offender or offenders may be.

Detectives are also yet to get their hands on any CCTV footage of the offender.

“It’s very early in the investigation … we don’t have anything firm to go on but we’re exploring different avenues,” he said.

Detective Inspector Ellway said he believes there was a “short exchange of words” before the offender opened fire in the “very brazen” attack.

“It’s very concerning that someone would do this at that time of day in that area,” he added.

Detective Inspector Ellway said there was a good chance it was a case of mistaken identity but was unsure if the offender was acting alone.

“I don’t think it’s something random, I think it’s certainly a possibility that it was (a case of) mistaken identity,” he added.

Detective Inspector Ellway said the fact the offender is believed to have been wearing white painting overalls or a hazmat suit indicated that there had been “a degree of planning” in the attack.

Wife Catherine Urie (left) and her daughter Claire Barnier were home at the time of the attack. Picture: Tony Gough

Residents in Middle Park and surrounds will feel an extra layer of security on Friday night and into the weekend, with more officers being deployed to patrol local streets.

“I can understand they’d be very concerned about this happening in their neighbourhood, we’ve spoken to local police and they’ll certainly be stepping up patrols around the area,” he added.

“From our perspective, we don’t think there’s anything for them to be concerned about.”

Mr Nairn was described as a “lovely man” by neighbours after the horrifying incident.

One next-door neighbour, who asked not to be named, said he had come home from the Espy Hotel on Thursday evening to find the place “swarming with cops”.

Ms Urie said that her husband was “comfortable” in the Alfred hospital as he waited for space to open up in surgery.

Police are urging anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1300 333 000.