Shooting at shopping centre in Vermont South leaves young man disabled

A TEENAGER left disabled after a shooting at a shopping centre carpark in Melbourne’s east was shot when an ambush attempt went wrong.

A TEENAGER left disabled after a shooting at a shopping centre carpark in Melbourne’s east was shot when an ambush attempt went wrong.

Police today released CCTV of the August 19 ambush at a Vermont South shopping centre as they step up the hunt for the gunman, believe to be linked to two shootings in Whitehorse.

Box Hill detective Senior-Sergeant Ian Shepherd said police believe the victim wasn’t the intended target.

“It certainly was a targeted attack, however the person who has ultimately been shot was not the intended target of that attack,” Sen-Sgt Shepher said.

“The person who has been shot was an associate of the people who were behind the attack.

We believe this is in relation to a drug matter, a dispute over drugs, and a plan was made to ambush the occupants of the third car and in amongst that attack, the ambush went wrong.”

The altercation took place at the shopping centre on Burwood Hwy at about 9.20pm on August 19, where two vehicles, a gold Holden Rodeo ute and a dark blue Holden Commodore, chased another through the carpark before the occupants got out and ambushed the occupant of a third vehicle.

One of the occupants of the first two cars, a 19-year-old Cheltenham man, was shot. He received significant upper body injuries, leaving him with a permanent disability.

He was later dropped at Knox Private Hospital suffering critical injuries.

The same two cars were captured on security footage at a nearby petrol station immediately prior to the shooting.

It’s believed the same group was involved in separate firearms incident at Surrey Hills.

Police found and seized the Holden Rodeo ute and interviewed an 18-year-old Warrandyte man. He was released pending further investigation.

Investigators also believe the Holden Commodore was used in a petrol theft in Clayton on 16 August and have released CCTV images of the car and its driver.

Police believe this man used the same Holden Commodore in a petrol theft.

The man is described as about 185cm with an olive complexion and of medium build.

He was wearing light coloured track pants a dark coloured hoodie.

Police have released a FACE image of a man they wish to speak to.

Investigators have also released a FACE image of a second man, who is believed to have been the passenger in the Commodore.

It’s believed this man had been armed with the firearm which was used to shoot the victim in Vermont South.

Anyone with information can phone Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.