A 17-year-old boy is fighting for his life in hospital while police probe if overnight shootings at Melbourne are gang-related and linked to previous suspected murders.
The teenager and a 15-year-old boy were both shot just after midnight on Friday near the Collingwood public housing estate at the intersection of Vere St and Campbell St.
The older boy remains in hospital in a serious condition while the 15-year-old checked himself into hospital following the incidents which occured close to the bustling Smith and Brunswick St precincts.
Victoria Police swarmed the scene after reports up to 50 people were believed to be brawling prior to the shootings which investigators say were linked.
Detetives also believe several subsequent incidents linked to the shootings spilled over to the ‘very busy’ Hoddle St.
Victoria Police State Anti-Gang Squad detective Superintendent Jason Kelly said most people fled the scene when cops arrived and the Armed Crime Squad is currently investigating the shootings.
‘It’s very lucky that 17-year-old is still alive,’ Supt Kelly said.
‘We are treating this as a targeted attack, we believe up to 50 persons were present, were known to each other.
‘The specific motivation has not yet been established and remains unclear [but] investigators from the armed crime squad will keep an open mind.
‘The incident is very concerning… we have two young children… shot in a public street in Melbourne…
‘It’s certainly of great concern to Victoria Police and we will leave no stone unturned to investigate this matter.
‘It’s certainly concerning when a firearm is used in a public place… it’s really only luck that has prevented two people from being killed and the fact the homicide squad is not involved… is pure luck…
Supt Kelly said Viper Taskforce cops have been deployed to the scene and local police will continue to conduct ongoing ‘assurance patrols’ in the area.
The investigation is ongoing but Supt Kelly promised police will soon be making arrests.
‘We asking for people to come forward before we come knocking on their doors…,’ he said.
‘It’s too early to say at this stage [if the shootings are gang related] but an avenue of enquiry we will keep open is whether it’s gang related.
‘Whether there’s any recent conficts that may have occured, often these incidents occur when other incidents have occured.’
Supt Kelly did not rule out the possibilty the shootings were a drive-by, nor any possible link to recent suspected gang-related murders in Wyndham Vale and North Melbourne.
‘When we have children being shot and potentially being shot by other children Victoria Police will leave no stone unturned…,’ he said
‘It’s an extremly concerning incident and we will continue to investigate and get to the bottom of this matter. It’s just unacceptable.
‘We suspect the large group who had congregated there were known to each other.
‘The circumstances as to why these two young boys were shot is still to be determined. We’re still working through avenues of enquiries and at this stage.
‘It’s too early to say what the linkages are but we will get to the bottom of this. Those offenders wil be arrested, held to account and put before the courts.
‘It can only be described as a horrific incident. We will continue to pursue those responsible.’
Supt Kelly said police were still working to establish the specific firearm or firearms were used but a ballistics team is currently investigating at the scene.
The overnight shootings come less than a fortnight after 24-year-old Lino Atem was ambushed by at least a dozen males and hacked to death with a machete at Wyndham Vale on January 13.
The young tradie suffered stab wounds and died just 100m from his home.
Two men were also injured in the attack, including Lino’s brother Mading, 27, who was taken to hospital.
The alleged attackers remain on the run and police believe the ‘ferocious’ attack also appeared to be targeted.
The tragedy comes on top of the family mourning Lino’s oldest brother Atem Atem, who was shot and killed at the family’s Wyndham Vale home in February 2023.
No arrests have been made over the murders of Atem, 29, and a friend who was at the home at the time.
In November, aspiring rapper Pal Bidong was shot dead on the street after a Halloween rave, prompting a violent brawl in the middle of the night.
Mr Bidong, who went by the rap name ‘Peezy’, was found by members of the public with at least one gunshot wound on the footpath of Langford Street, in North Melbourne, about 3.15am on November 2.
It’s believed Mr Bidong’s murder was a gang-related execution.
It’s understood a huge fight broke out among partygoers after Mr Bidong was fatally shot.
Investigators probed the crime scene around the industrial area which is close to a train line, a major road and a creek.
The suspected gunman is still on the run.
Any witnesses, or anybody with footage or information regarding the overnight Colling shootings, is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online.