Fatal shooting and car fire in Melbourne’s north linked to underworld figure’s relative

Consensus Summary

A 55-year-old man was fatally shot in the driveway of a property on Mahoneys Road, Reservoir, around 11:50pm on Tuesday night, with police confirming the incident as suspicious. The victim, later identified by 7NEWS as a relative of underworld figure Kaz Hamad, suffered gunshot wounds and died before emergency services could arrive. Shortly after the shooting, a black Lexus—driven by the suspected offender—was found burnt out on Robinvale Avenue in Thomastown, approximately 3km from the crime scene. Both ABC and 7NEWS report that a white vehicle was seen fleeing the car fire, though details on its make or registration differ between sources.

The shooting unfolded in Melbourne’s north, an area already under scrutiny for organized crime activity. Police set up a crime scene at the Reservoir location while homicide detectives investigated whether the attack was premeditated. The burnt-out Lexus, captured on CCTV with NSW plates, was linked to the shooting through forensic evidence, though its exact role remains under examination. 7NEWS notes that dashcam footage from the area between 10:30pm Tuesday and 1am Wednesday could contain critical evidence, as the offender allegedly abandoned the Lexus for a white Toyota Corolla hatchback.

ABC describes the victim’s death as 'treated as suspicious' without additional context, while 7NEWS provides deeper background, framing the shooting as potentially tied to Melbourne’s underworld. The outlet reports the victim was a relative of Kaz Hamad, a figure associated with illicit tobacco trade, though police have not confirmed this connection. Witnesses near the scene reported hearing multiple gunshots, and CCTV footage allegedly shows the offender fleeing in the Lexus before setting it ablaze. A white Corolla with stolen plates was later found in Thomastown, though investigators are still determining its link to the crime.

While both sources agree on the core timeline—shooting at 11:50pm Tuesday and car fire shortly after—7NEWS offers more granular details, including the number of gunshots (six) and the offender’s use of a second vehicle. ABC focuses on the crime scene setup and the burnt-out car’s discovery without specifying its make or the suspect’s escape method. The discrepancy in victim details—ABC omits the underworld connection while 7NEWS highlights it—may reflect differing access to police briefings or investigative leads. Neither source contradicts the other on critical facts, but the framing varies significantly.

Police have urged the public to come forward with dashcam footage or witness statements, particularly those who traveled through Reservoir or Thomastown during the relevant hours. The investigation remains active, with Crime Stoppers encouraging tips on 1800 333 000. While 7NEWS suggests the shooting was targeted, ABC’s phrasing—'whether the shooting was a targeted incident'—implies ongoing uncertainty. The next steps likely involve analyzing the Lexus’s forensic evidence, tracing the white Corolla’s ownership, and reviewing CCTV from the area to identify additional suspects or witnesses.