As it happened: Four dead as city reels after car mows down pedestrians

A man identified as Dimitrious 'Jimmy' Gargasoulas allegedly drove a car through a crowd of pedestrians on Bourke Street, killing four people and injuring at least 30 others.

Among the four people killed were a 10-year-old girl, a 25-year-old man, a 33-year-old man and a 32-year-old woman. There are fears the death toll will rise.

A three-month-old baby girl who was rushed to hospital by police officers is among seven people with life-threatening injuries.

Three people are in a critical condition at the Royal Melbourne Hospital and three are in a critical condition at The Alfred.

A 32-year-old Indian woman who had been living in Australia with her husband and child is among those fighting for her life.

The mother, who works as an integration developer, is now in a critical condition at The Alfred with fractures to her neck and abdomen. The injuries are near her spinal cord.

Mr Gargasoulas, 26, is in hospital after being shot in the arm by police. He is expected to be charged on Saturday.

Mr Gargasoulas is accused of stabbing his brother, Angelo, in his mother's public housing flat in Windsor on Friday morning. Police said he has a history of family violence, as well as mental health and drug problems.

On Wednesday night, Mr Gargasoulas allegedly attacked 76-year-old Gavin Wilson, who lives at his mother's housing commission flats, and demanded the keys to his car.

Mr Gargasoulas tried to trash a St Kilda Bar after being denied entry to the venue the night before he allegedly went on the rampage.

The 26-year-old, who is a father to a number of children, had been posting angry comments on social media this week about God, war and police.

The Coroner has launched a forensic investigation into the incident as Victoria's controversial bail laws could be set for a shake-up.

Police said the incident was not terror-related.

Angelo Gargasoulas has been discharged from hospital.Credit: Facebook

He is always smiling, loves fashion and is adored by his friends.

But Angelo Gargasoulas had a fractured relationship with his brother Dimitrious or "Jimmy" – the 26-year-old who allegedly mowed down dozens of people in the CBD and killed at least four people

Earlier in the day in a Windsor public housing unit on Raleigh Street, Jimmy allegedly set upon his brother with a knife. The young man, who is in his 20s, was allegedly stabbed in the chest and head. He is now fighting for his life.

Angelo's friends said he had a tortured relationship with his brother, who hated the fact that he was gay.

Giuseppe, who became friends with Angelo in 2013 and did not want his surname to be published, said Jimmy refused to accept his brother's sexuality.

"Jimmy never accepted gay people, he was very homophobic person," he said.

A 32-year-old Indian woman who had been living in Australia with her husband and child was among those mowed down by the truck.

The mother, who works as an integration developer, is now in a critical condition at The Alfred with fractures to her neck and abdomen. The injuries are near her spinal cord.

She had been going on a walk through the CBD during her lunch break on Friday when she was hit by the maroon sedan driven, a relative said.
Her family live in Mumbai, and have desperately been trying to get information about her condition.

On Sunday, the Andrews Government will announce a new fund for people who wish to donate to the families of those killed in the Bourke Street tragedy. The state will contribute $100,000.

The girlfriend of the accused Bourke Street killer said she was still in shock that Dimitrious "Jimmy" Gargasoulas had allegedly run down people, killing four and injuring more than 20 others.

"I still I can't believe that it did happen because it's not supposed to happen," she said. "He didn't even have the right to.

"I'm still in shock: did that really just happen? At the moment I'm kind of lost and confused."

Akiir Muo outside Dimitrious "Jimmy" Gargasoulas home in Windsor. Credit: Eddie Jim

Serena Williams on Saturday. Credit: Andy Brownbill

Serena Williams has paid tribute to the victims of yesterday's Bourke Street Mall tragedy.

The six-time Australian Open champion said she was shocked to hear about the deaths of four people on Friday after a man speeding car charged through pedestrians in the middle of Melbourne's CBD.

"It's very shocking and extremely saddening and disheartening," Williams said at her post-match press conference.

"[There are] just so many sad things are happening around the world, and even to hit so close to home where I know literally it's down the street from the tournament, close to where a lot of players are staying.

"You know, it's just an unfortunate event that you just have to really pray for everyone involved in that sad situation."

GALLERY: Melbourne mourns Bourke St victims

It quickly became apparent that a first aid kit was not going to cut it.

Andrew Blain raced down from his level eight office on Bourke Street with a box of emergency supplies after seeing carnage on the footpath and road. There were five people on the ground. There was blood. Lots of it.

Mr Blain crouched next to an Asian man, in his 20s, who was bleeding profusely from his head and lay at the intersection of Bourke and Queen streets. "Keep on breathing," he said.

The father-of-two handed out latex gloves to passers-by who had stopped to help the wounded. The rest of the first aid kit was useless, he said. "There were some pretty gruesome injuries, gauze and bandages weren't going to do much," he said. "We needed towels."

Witnesses help the injured on Bourke Street.Credit: Justin McManus

The Coroner has launched a forensic investigation into the incident as more details emerge about the criminal history of the alleged killer, Dimitrious "Jimmy" Gargasoulas, 26.

Known to authorities due to his history of family violence and other offences, Mr Gargasoulas had been charged over family violence related offences on January 14 and appeared before an after-hours bail justice, who allowed him to walk free – despite police opposing his release.

He was due to appear in court on Friday but instead absconded, and later used his Holden Commodore to charge through the city, eventually killing four people.