Police are investigating an attempted armed robbery where a man was shot in Springvale South this morning, Victoria Police say.
It is believed a man, armed with a firearm, entered a convenience store on Springvale Road shortly before 4.30am.
The offender, who had followed a male customer into the store, approached the front counter and made demands for cash.
A male staff member attempted to lock himself in a store room behind the counter when the offender discharged his firearm.
The store attendant, a 40-year-old, sustained a gunshot wound to his arm during the incident and was conveyed to hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
The witness was uninjured.
The male offender tried to access the till but was unsuccessful and fled the scene on foot in a southerly direction.
He is described as about 180cm tall and was wearing a beanie, black and white bandana, dark-coloured top and dark-coloured pants.
Police are investigating connections to an attempted armed robbery that occurred a short time earlier at a near-by service station on Heatherton Road.
It is understood an unknown male, armed with a firearm, attended the store near Hosken Street and made demands for money.
This robbery was also unsuccessful and the offender fled the scene on foot empty-handed.
In this instance the offender described was wearing a grey hooded jumper, dark-coloured tracksuit pants and a bandana across face.
Armed Crime Squad detectives are investigating the circumstances surrounding both incidents.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
