Homicide investigators hope to bring justice to Shannon McCormack’s friends and family

Shannon McCormack’s parents are pleading with a coward punch killer to hand himself in over their son’s death as a $1m reward is posted.

A heartbroken mum and dad have urged a coward punch killer to hand himself in after the death of their son, Shannon McCormack, in Melbourne.

A $1m reward was posted on Wednesday to catch the man responsible.

Homicide squad investigators hope the bounty will finally bring justice to the family and friends of Mr McCormack, who died 15 years ago this week.

A man caught on CCTV at the time remains unidentified despite the public release of footage.

“All we need is a name and we still believe this case can be solved,” Detective Inspector Tony Combridge said.

The much-loved 22-year-old was attacked on May 4, 2007, outside the Queens Bridge Hotel and died of his injuries on June 3.

Bill McCormack with a photo his son, Shannon, who died after being coward punched. Picture: Andy Brownbill

Mr McCormack and three friends had left the nightclub at 4am when there was an altercation with another group about 100m away.

As tempers flared, Mr McCormack stepped in to defuse the situation before another man rushed in and struck from behind without warning.

Mr McCormack’s head struck the ground and he suffered a serious head injury.

Friends and nightclub staff gave first-aid and he was taken home to Eltham in a taxi where his health deteriorated through the night.

Shannon McCormack was 22 years old.

He was killed in 2007.

Mr McCormack’s parents took him to the Austin Hospital where he underwent a series of operations but tragically, he could not be saved.

Detectives from the homicide squad have spent thousands of hours interviewing witnesses and scouring CCTV to identify who was responsible.

Footage released in 2013 showed a man – regarded as a “significant person of interest” – who is still being sought by investigators.

He is described as being between 165cm and 175cm tall and of thin or medium build.

Images show he had light brown or blond spiky hair and wore a light purple or blue T-shirt and light blue jeans.

A CCTV image from the Queens Bridge Hotel.

An image of a man police want to speak to.

Police are also still looking for other males who were with the man on the night of Mr McCormack attack.

Shannon’s father, Bill, said his son was witty, funny and a practical joker.

“We just miss him terribly,” he said.

“When you lose a parent, you lose your past, when you lose a child, you lose your future, you lose your grandchildren.

“He didn’t just kill our son, he killed a whole generation of our family.”

Mr McCormack said it seemed like a short time ago that he dropped his son off at Eltham station to catch a train to the city for a night out celebrating a Collingwood win.

Mr McCormack said memories still came flooding back when he heard certain music, particular films were mentioned or he heard sayings Shannon would use.

“For everyone else, it’s like 15 years. For us, it’s like 15 seconds,” he said.

“It’s like we have been in a bubble, nothing changes, time stands still.

“They used to call him ‘The Link’. He had friends from kinder, primary school, secondary school, tennis, the gym. He was very popular … very funny, cruisy,” Mr McCormack said.

He said the culprit would be likely to have committed such acts before.

“This guy would have a history of doing it. There’s not many people that cowardly.”

Shannon’s mother, Cheryl, said her son’s death was one of the most difficult things she had gone through.

“You learn to live with it, but you never get over it,” she said.

“We still have got his memories, he was a great kid — such a waste of life.”

Insp. Combridge said the case was lodged in many Victorians’ memories.

“It was one of the first one-punch deaths, which sadly became all too common in the

years following, and I know his family have campaigned tirelessly for greater

awareness around this issue,” he said.

“No night out should end in a death like this; it’s absolutely senseless.”

Insp. Combridge said it was likely those present on the night had confided with others about what happened.

“Circumstances and allegiances may have changed, and people who weren’t in a

position to speak to police previously may now be ready or able to do so,” he said.

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