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Ascot Vale teenager charged with murdering rapper Chris Habiyakare

Chris Habiyakare was shot during an altercation with intruders on August 24, 2021.

Police have charged a man with murder over the death of rapper Chris Habiyakare in Melbourne's west in August last year.

Mr Habiyakare, 24, was shot during an altercation with intruders in his home in Essex Street, Sunshine, on August 24.

An 18-year-old Ascot Vale man was arrested in Docklands on Wednesday and will face court today charged with murder.

Police also arrested a 21-year-old Tarneit man and a 20-year-old Keilor Downs man yesterday, both of whom have since been released from custody.

Investigators said a group of up to six people armed with weapons, including a gun, forced their way into the house in Essex Street, Sunshine North on August 24.

Two men and three women who were at the house as guests of Mr Habiyakare fled the property, with one woman smashing a window to get out.

A physical altercation took place during which Mr Habiyakare was shot.

Police have revealed there was a significant amount of cash and drugs at the premises on the night of the shooting.

In November last year, Detective Inspector Tim Day from the homicide squad said the attack might have been "over a debt or some other issue".

He said Mr Habiyakare was known to police and had a history of involvement with drugs.

"However, he was also much-loved by his family and friends, all of whom are still grieving his loss and searching for answers as to why this has occurred," he said.

Mr Habiyakare's father Belthrand Habiyakare said his family had moved to Australia from Tanzania in 2007, but his son had drifted away from the family after he was expelled from school.

"In the last two years, he has been able to sit with us, come visit our family, we had even some lunch together. That was a miracle," he said.

"I realised after he was dead that he produced a lot of music that I didn't get to watch." 

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