A man shot dead in an alleged drive-by shooting has been identified as an expectant father and businessman.
Aaron Toth, a 30-year-old carpenter from Cranbourne, was found with a fatal gunshot wound inside a Volkswagen Golf on Bride Avenue in Hampton Park, in Melbourne’s south-east, at 12.30am on Saturday.
While Victoria Police have not said the alleged shooting is linked to organized crime, detectives believe the incident has all the hallmarks of a targeted execution.
Mr. Toth, whose partner was pregnant, died at the scene of the shooting.
His killers fled in a stolen Ford Ranger van, which was found burnt out at Sweeny Reserve in Berwick, about 9 kilometers from the scene of the shooting, at around 2.30am.
Aaron Toth (pictured), a 30-year-old carpenter from Cranbourne, was found with a fatal gunshot wound inside a Volkswagen Golf on Saturday.
Mr Toth was pronounced dead at the scene and Victoria Police are investigating whether his execution was targeted (pictured, officers at the scene)
A close friend of Mr Toth said he was “on his way to Melbourne” after hearing of his death.
‘A day too late to catch up, we’ll never have it.’ “I will never be able to tell you how much I love you as a partner for everything you have done for me,” she wrote online.
‘Aaron, my brother, I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you more, but thank you for everything you did for me and my family. I’m so upset and screwed over your death.
“I hope the weak dog responsible for pulling the trigger the police find you before I do.”
Another friend said: “We will miss you forever.”
Neighbors reportedly heard between two and four gunshots at the time of the fatal shooting.
Aslam Pasha, a resident who has lived on Bride Avenue for 25 years, told Herald of the sun The shooting took place in front of a dilapidated red brick house.
He claims the property received frequent visitors, often arriving on motorcycles at odd hours.
Another resident believed a mechanic lived at the house because several cars came and went at odd hours.
A third neighbor said she had sent several complaints to police about the tenants of the red brick house.
Homicide Squad detectives are investigating Mr. Toth’s death.
Toth’s killers fled in a stolen Ford Ranger van, which was found burnt out (pictured) at Sweeny Reserve in Berwick.
They are working to determine Mr Toth’s movements in his final hours and why he was outside the red brick house.
The alleged targeted attack sparked an urgent police search for the gunman.
Victoria Police has urged anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers.
