source : the age
A man shot dead in Melbourne’s north on the weekend has been identified by family as a soon-to-be-married plumber who was rushing to help a friend when he was killed.
Daniel Hussein, 22, was gunned down near HR Uren Reserve in Victoria Drive, Thomastown, about 7.40pm on Sunday.
Hussein’s brother, Ali, confirmed his identity to reporters at the scene near the Lalor United Sloga Football Club on Monday morning.
“His friend got into a brawl and called my brother. My brother pulled up [in his car] and they shot my brother. His car was still running,” Ali said.
He said the dispute that allegedly led to the fatal shooting began in the Melbourne CBD two nights earlier.
In an update on Monday afternoon, police confirmed the victim was a 22-year-old from Thomastown, and the gunman was still at large.
“The exact circumstances surrounding the shooting are still being determined,” the force’s statement said. “However, police believe the victim may have been involved in a confrontation with the offender or offenders in the reserve car park shortly before it occurred.”
The youngest of four brothers, Daniel Hussein had recently completed his plumbing apprenticeship and was about to get married, his brother Ali told The Age.
He described his sibling as a sensible young man who knew what he wanted in life.
“He’d come home from work and go straight to the gym – he was into his fitness. Out of four brothers, he was the youngest one. He’d learnt from our mistakes. He was straight-headed and had his own house.”
Dozens of people gathered at the scene on Sunday night as police cordoned off the street near the football club.
Club president Rob Nedelkovski told ABC radio on Monday that clubroom cleaners noticed youths out the front of the facility on Sunday night and later discovered a large police presence on Victoria Drive.
“It’s not a good look, but it’s not related to the club,” he said.
“It’s a general car park, and we’ll deal with it, talk to the council and see if we can get some additional measures put in place.”
Homicide detectives want to speak with anyone who may have been near the shooting scene on Sunday night and witnessed any suspicious activity, police said in a statement.
Motorists with dashcam footage are also urged to come forward.
Lachlan Abbott is a crime reporter at The Age. He was previously a city reporter and covered breaking news.Connect via email.
