Detectives from the Homicide Squad along with police from Search and Rescue and Eastern Region will be searching parkland in Bayswater today as part of the ongoing investigation into the fatal shooting of a man in Donvale on Saturday morning.
They are also appealing for anyone with CCTV or dashcam vision of the incident or the people or vehicles involved to come forward.
Emergency services initially responded to reports of a white van blocking inbound lanes on Eastlink about 2.20am on 9 November.
A 46-year-old Croydon man, who was the sole occupant of the vehicle, was located deceased inside the van with gunshot wounds.
Investigators now believe a Mercedes sedan had followed the victim's vehicle from his home in Croydon and then took off from the scene after the shooting occurred.
The exact circumstances regarding the shooting are still to be determined.
It's believed the occupants on the Mercedes drove to a Volkswagen Amarok ute, then set fire to the Mercedes in Jaxlee Court, Mooroolbark shortly before 2.50am.
Just after 3.10am, police sighted the Amarok on Windermere Drive in Ferntree Gully and attempted to intercept the vehicle.
Police followed the car before it was dumped in the vicinity of Mountain Highway and Scoresby Road in Bayswater. Two men then left the vehicle and ran into the adjacent parkland at Marie Wallace Bayswater Park (Bayswater Reserve).
A number of units including the Air Wing, Dog Squad and Critical incident Response Team then searched the area, however the men were unable to be located.
The parkland was further searched by police yesterday, with that search continuing again today.
Detectives from the Homicide Squad are investigating the death and are appealing to anyone with CCTV footage or dashcam to come forward.
In particular, anyone residing in the vicinity of Marie Wallace Bayswater Park (Bayswater Reserve) that saw or heard anything between 3.15am and 4am on Saturday, 9 November who is yet to speak to police is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
Investigators are particularly keen to obtain any footage from the area where the men ran into the park.
Detectives would also like to speak to anyone driving through the eastern suburbs area on Saturday morning who may have dashcam vision of the incidents or the vehicles and people involved.
In particular, anyone travelling in the vicinity of Croydon, Ringwood, Donvale, Mooroolbark, Wantirna, Bayswater, Boronia and Ferntree Gully between 1am and 3.30am are asked to check their dashcam for vehicles with the following registrations:
• AZE 110 (Mercedes sedan)
• ABE 158 (VW Van white)
• IMC158 (VW Amarok grey)
Anyone who witnessed the incident or with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or make a confidential report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
