Police are searching for a gunman after a shooting at a tattoo parlour east of Melbourne, which left a man fighting for his life.
The Armed Crime Squad and Echo Taskforce, Victoria Police's anti-gang division, are investigating after a man in his 30s was involved in a shooting inside the Nitro Ink parlour in Hampton Park.
Investigators believe that it was a targeted shooting.
Emergency services were called to the scene about 1:15pm after the alarm was raised.
The Alfred Hospital said the victim was in a critical condition.
An extensive crime scene has been set up around the shopping complex that the parlour is in.
'Alarming' shooting put public at risk: police
Police Inspector Michael Daly described the shooting as "very concerning".
He said police thought the victim had been at the tattoo parlour as a customer.
He said it was too early to say if it was bikie-related, what the motive was or what sort of firearm was used.
"Very concerning because whether this is targeted or not, there were innocent members of the public present," Inspector Daly said.
He said "stray bullets" had entered a neighbouring property.
"It's very alarming given that innocent people could have been injured as a result of this attack."
A burnt-out silver sedan was found in a nearby street.
Inspector Daly said police were treating the car as a potential get-away vehicle and had set up a secondary crime scene.
Police are speaking with witnesses and are asking anyone with information to contact them.
Nearby resident Rhonda Scott said it was a confronting scene to come home to.
"All the police cars and police tape and an ambulance … I'm glad I wasn't here," she said.
She said she believed there had been problems at the tattoo parlour in past.
"Police have busted the shop before," she said.
