Five men have been charged with murder over an alleged “targeted attack” on an underworld figure outside a busy shopping centre.
The group was arrested in raids across Melbourne’s north and east early on Thursday as part of a probe into the fatal shooting of Robert Issa.
The 27-year-old was gunned down outside a shopping centre at Craigieburn in Melbourne’s north in October 2023.
The arrests marked a “turning point” in the investigation, Homicide Squad Detective Inspector Dean Thomas said.
“This is only the beginning. We believe these men were likely the foot soldiers who carried out the murder,” he said.
In an attack police said was possibly linked to Melbourne’s long-running illegal tobacco wars, four men wearing balaclavas surrounded Issa’s Mercedes SUV, firing multiple shots into the passenger side and rear windows as shocked shoppers looked on.
Another man, a 28-year-old from Hadfield, was taken to hospital in a serious condition.
Thomas called the shooting incredibly violent, saying it was completely unacceptable for innocent bystanders to be exposed to such danger.
More arrests were imminent, he said.
“There’s still people out there with direct knowledge as to the motive, who was involved in the shooting and who has financed and ordered the shooting to take place,” Thomas said.
“We are determined to identify them and hold them to account.”
A 29-year-old from Kew, a 31-year-old from Mickleham, a 33-year-old from Pascoe Vale and two 26-year-old men from Fawkner were taken into custody shortly after 6am.
They were each charged with murder, attempted murder and criminal damage by fire.
The group was due to face the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Thursday afternoon.
-AAP
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