Prahran shooting victim’s dad tells how he learned of attack
Machar Machar planned Friday as a fun night out with friends on Chapel St, but instead he ended up the latest victim of Melbourne’s late-night gun violence. Now, the 19-year-old’s dad has told of his condition.
Police & Courts
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A Tarneit teen who was shot on the street outside a popular Chapel St nightclub in a frightening early hours ambush is recovering in hospital while the gunman remains on the run.
Machar Machar, 19, was shot in the hand about 5.30am Saturday on Bray St after being outside Chasers nightclub which featured popular African-Australian artists.
His father Chol said he was “very sad” about the shooting as his family fled war torn Sudan in 2006 for a safer life.
“It is not good, but he is recovering,” he told the Sunday Herald Sun from his son’s bedside.
“His friend called me and said, ‘your son got shot.’
“I did not believe it.”
Machar Machar completed his VCE at Thomas Carr College last year and was beginning to look for a job.
His shooter, who his family claim he does not know, and an accomplice fled in a stolen white Audi SUV which was found dumped 300m away in Garden Street.
The vehicle had been seen loitering in the Chapel Street vicinity half an hour before the attack.
Friends rushed him to the Alfred hospital in a frenzy and he was tonight recovering from surgery.
Detective Acting Sergeant Jarrod Westlake said there was a “large congregation” of up to 100 clubbers who had spilled out onto the street at the time of the shooting.
“It is certainly very concerning, the fact someone has discharged a firearm in a public place,” Det Sgt Westlake said.
Police had not yet recovered the firearm and ballistics experts were still determining how many shots were fired.
A Chasers spokeswoman said they had “no issues” throughout the night.
“There were no dramas, everyone was good,” the spokeswoman said.
One local said he woke to the sound of shots.“The first one went off and there was loads of screaming,” he said.
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“I heard someone say ‘I told you he had a gun’. There was a lot of commotion.”
Detectives would like to speak to anyone who saw the Audi in the Chapel Street area prior to the shooting
Anyone with information or anyone who witnessed the incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.