<!–
<!–
<!– <!–
<!–
<!–
<!–
A man was forced to dodge bullets while walking his dog near a popular children’s play area in Melbourne’s north-east.
The alleged shooting took place at Memorial Park on Fraser Rise shortly before 7pm on Wednesday evening, and police suspect it was a targeted attack.
A witness reported seeing a blue car slowly drive by before the incident.
“Then we heard this big bang, bang and looked and saw this man with his dog running away from the blue car down the street,” he recalled.
“He left his dog near the park fence, jumped over it and ran away.”
Witnesses told police they saw two men wearing black balaclavas, each holding a gun, who fired up to a dozen shots.
A man was walking his dog near Memorial Park (pictured) in Fraser Rise on Wednesday evening when shots were fired
“We heard this big bang, bang and looked and saw this man with his dog running from the blue car down the street,” one man told the newspaper. Sun Herald.
Another witness told the publication that the shooting happened very quickly.
“I think the police received a phone call because the sound (of gunshots) was coming through the area and everyone was home at the time to hear it.”
The police quickly cordoned off the park and called in the dog brigade while an investigation was opened.
It is understood the alleged attackers fled the scene in the blue car, which was later found burnt out 4km away in the nearby suburb of Hillside.
Police are also investigating whether a second burned car found in Caroline Springs is connected to the shooting.
“It is believed that this was not a random attack and no one was injured,” a police statement said.
It comes hours after three men were injured in a late-night shooting 18km away in Tarneit shortly before midnight on Tuesday.
Police are investigating whether two cars (one pictured) found burnt out in different suburbs are linked to the shooting.
Two men suffering from gunshot wounds were found in different locations, while a third later showed up at hospital with an arm wound.
A crime scene was set up at a nearby MacDonald’s, where police examined two Mercedes vehicles.
“Police believe an altercation took place between two groups, but the exact circumstances of the shooting remain to be determined,” a statement said.
“Detectives are treating the incident as targeted and the parties involved are known to each other.”
Anyone with information, CCTV or dashcam footage in relation to either incident is asked to call Crime Stoppers.
It was the second shooting in Melbourne in 24 hours after an overnight shooting 18km away in Tarneit.