A man who handed himself into police after a 31-year-old man was shot dead in an allegedly stolen car in Melbourne's north-west has been released without charge, however officers still believe he is the man who shot the victim.
Ayman Afram was found in a stolen black BMW sedan on Vaucluse Boulevard with critical injuries on Sunday night at Taylors Hill.
9News can reveal the BMW was one of 20 cars stolen from a smash repairs shop in Mulgrave just hours earlier.
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CCTV vision captured the moment the alleged thieves rammed a garage door before taking off with a safe full of keys and vehicles including the BMW.
Hours later, the car was seen following a white Mitsubishi in Melbourne's north-west.
Detective Acting Inspector Nigel L'Estrange said yesterday that the BMW sedan was pursing another car, a white Mitsubishi Lancer, before the alleged shooting.
The Mitsubishi then crashed into bollards on Grange Terrace before the BMW pulled up behind them.
"The driver of the white Lancer has gotten out of the vehicle with the firearm and fired a shot through the front windscreen of the black BMW," L'Estrange said.
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"The BMW took off, and the two drivers of the Mitsubishi have left on foot, that is the shooter and his passenger."
The BMW is believed to have driven to Vaucluse Boulevard, where the driver contacted triple zero and fled the scene.
Ambulance crews treated the 31-year-old Craigieburn man at the scene but he died from his injuries.
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Police say a 42-year-old Caroline Springs man, who handed himself into officers before later being released pending further inquiries, is believed to be the person who shot the victim.
The alleged suspect was earlier questioned while police search for two other men believed to be involved what they believe was a targeted attack.
Police said they received a "significant amount" of information overnight and are confident they will identify the two other men who fled the scene – the driver of the BMW and passenger of the Lancer.
The parties involved are known to each other, police say.
Detectives are also keen to speak to anyone who was in the area around Vaucluse Boulevard, Grange Terrace and Johnston Way between 11pm and midnight on Sunday, including any vehicles travelling through the area that may have dashcam footage.
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