Daniel O’Shea shot dead in South Yarra’s Fawkner Park

Police say it is “very regrettable” children found two guns used to kill a man in Fawkner Park on Friday night and have apologised for not finding them earlier.

Police say it is “very regrettable” children found two guns used to kill a man in Fawkner Park on Friday night.

Murder victim Daniel O’Shea had a criminal history which included firing upon a rival almost a decade ago.

The 41-year-old, who died after being shot in a targeted attack on Friday night, was himself arrested by Special Operations Group police in 2010 over the shooting of a man near Studley Park Boathouse in the inner-north suburb of Fairfield.

His victim, who suffered wounds to the leg and buttocks, survived.

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At the time, O’Shea was charged with intentionally causing injury, conduct endangering life, and possession of a firearm.

SES personnel conduct a fresh line search in Fawkner Park on Sunday as park users look on. Picture: Wayne Taylor

The Herald Sun understands O’Shea spent a long period in prison and was released only to return to crime.

O’Shea died before paramedics could take him to The Alfred hospital nearby.

Witnesses heard four shots ring out about 7.40pm.

It is presumed his killers dumped the two guns found under foliage in the northeast section of the park.

The firearms were found by children playing on Saturday and are being forensically examined by police.

“I understand that must have been incredibly frightening for the children and their mother. I’m very sorry that it happened,” Acting Deputy Commissioner Tess Walsh told 3AW radio.

“It shouldn’t have happened and it’s very regrettable.

“There is no doubt that the search should have turned up these firearms.”

It comes as police investigators launched an appeal for witnesses and any footage to identify the gunmen.

Homicide squad detectives believe CCTV or dashcam vision from around Fawkner Park in South Yarra just prior to and after the shooting could provide vital clues.

Metal detectors were used in the new search. Picture: Wayne Taylor

The motivation behind the killing is still being probed.

No links have been established to a spate of Melbourne shootings in which eight people have been killed in as many weeks.

There have been six shootings since March 1, including the drive-by attack on April 14 outside Prahran nightclub Love Machine in which two men were killed.

SES crews continued to search the northeast corner of Fawkner Park with metal detectors on Sunday.

The area of interest included a children’s playground next to where the guns were found, about 400m from where O’Shea was killed.

SES volunteers searched under slides, inside public bin cages, under drain covers and in garden beds.

The search area extended between Toorak Rd and Park Place.

A young boy discovered weapons in the fallen autumn leaves at Fawkner Park.

An SES member checks playground equipment on Sunday. Picture: Wayne Taylor

Volunteers also searched along a 50m area between the northeast boundary of the park along Toorak Rd to the northwest boundary.

The search commenced at about 10.30am on Sunday, and initially focused on the area where the gun was found on Saturday.

The large number of fatal shootings in recent months has evoked memories of the Melbourne gangland wars, in which hardened criminals were frequently gunned down on the city’s streets over an infamous decade from 1998.

But even at the height of the violence from that infamous period in the state’s history, people were not being fatally shot at the rate victims have lost their lives in recent weeks.

Police have pointed out the recent spate of shootings is unconnected.

Police speak with a dog walker at the scene. Picture: David Crosling

South Yarra resident Freedy Coory was walking her dog in the park when she heard gunshots.

“It sounded like four shots — bang, bang, bang, bang,” she said.

Sen-Sgt Andrew Brady said yesterday that Friday’s shooting was likely to have been a targeted attack.

“There is no evidence to suggest it was random,” Sen-Sgt Brady said.

“It’s absolutely concerning that such a crime can occur in such a densely populated place.

“But we would like to reassure the Victorian public that Victoria Police are doing everything within their resources to resolve successfully this homicide investigation.”

Sen-Sgt Brady said two members of the public were in Fawkner Park when they saw the injured man, who was lying down.

Police swarmed the South Yarra park after the fatal shooting. Picture: David Crosling

Residents in nearby houses said they were shocked to wake up and find a crime scene on their doorstep.

One woman said she had walked her dog in the park earlier that night.

“It was pretty quiet because it was cold and dark,” she said.

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“You do hear people talking about drug drops and that sort of thing happening around here.”

A man living nearby, who did not want to be named, said he heard loud noises coming from the park.

“I first thought it was someone banging on the downstairs door,” he said.

“I now know they were gunshots. This sort of thing doesn’t usually happen around here.”

Police at the scene on Friday night. Picture: Sarah Matray

A large section of the park was closed off during the investigation. Picture: David Crosling

MELBOURNE’S SPATE OF GUN DEATHS

Friday, March 1, Kensington: Ben Togiai, 30, is gunned down as bullets fly outside a boxing match at the Melbourne Pavilion in Kensington. Two others are injured. Abdullah El Nasher, 27, and Mikhael Myko, 25, are charged over the shooting.

Sunday, March 3, Dandenong: Mitat Rasimi’s body is found in a car in Dawn Ave. He was shot several times. No arrests have been made.

Ben Togiai died after being shot outside Melbourne Pavilion.

Mitat Rasimi’s body was found in a car in Dandenong.

Ali Ali was gunned down in Meadow Heights.

Deniz Hasan was also shot dead in Meadow Heights.

Monday, March 4, Meadow Heights: Ali Ali, 28, and Deniz Hasan, 40, both died after being shot in the street. On March 26, homicide squad detectives charged 23-year-old Norden Wilio with two counts of murder.

Sunday, March 10, Springvale: Winis Apet, 20, is ambushed and shot dead after leaving a cafe. Paguir Pan, 19, has been charged with murder.

Winis Apet was killed in an ambush.

Bouncer Aaron Khalid Osmani was killed in a nightclub shooting.

Love Machine patron Richard Arow was also killed that night.

Sunday, April 14, Prahran: Love Machine nightclub doorman Aaron Khalid Osmani, 37, and patron Richard Arow, 28, die when a gunman opens fire on a queue outside. No arrests made.

Friday, April 26, South Yarra: A 41-year-old Carnegie man is shot dead in Fawkner Park about 8pm. The killer, or killers, remain on the run.