By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
VICTORIA Police is setting up a new firearms unit after a spate of shootings throughout the state in recent weeks, including some in Casey.
The pro-active illicit firearms investigations team, announced on Thursday, will be based within the Purana Task Force and focus on preventing shootings and disrupting the supply of guns.
There have been 16 shootings in Victoria since early October, according to media reports, with the most recent occurring in Jacana on Wednesday night 4 November.
Last month a Lynbrook man narrowly avoided being shot in his car by an unknown assailant after the bullet missed him by mere “millimetres”.
The 29-year-old victim had parked in Macleod Way in Lynbrook and was checking his phone when another person, unknown to him, pulled up alongside the victim in another car and pointed a gun at him about 2.30am on Friday 16 October.
In a panic the victim drove off but the attacker allegedly fired several bullets towards the car as it sped away.
One of the bullets was shot inside the car and narrowly missed the victim.
“The round missed him by … if I were to say millimetres I’d be generous,” Detective Sergeant Stu Freeman told Star News at the time.
“I can’t understand how it didn’t strike him.”
Less than a week earlier a man had been shot in Narre Warren in an incident being investigated by the Echo taskforce, established to probe bikie gangs.
Det Sgt Freeman said there no evidence to suggest the two Casey shootings were linked.
Anyone with any information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or submit a confidential report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
