UPDATE: A suspected shooting murder in a quiet Hoppers Crossing street has been linked to a burglary and the theft of a prestige car Monday morning.
Emergency services arrived at Strang Street, in Hoppers Crossing, about 2.20am and discovered the body on a footpath, police say.
Police had received information about two men arguing followed by a loud noise and a car driving off.
Leonard Linning’s girlfriend left his house on Strang Street about 2am Monday morning and drove past what she believed was a man “passed out” on the side of the road, he said.
She called Mr Linning, 25, who then drove about five houses down the street to find an “average-looking guy” wearing jeans and gloves apparently collapsed on the pavement.
While on the phone to paramedics Mr Linning kept trying to “wake him up”.
“He wasn’t breathing at all,” Mr Linning said. “I was trying to revive him, but he was already gone.
“He was cold and he was stiff.”
His elderly father, Raymond, also attempted to administer CPR, but quickly realised they were too late.
The Linnings said they had never seen the man before.
Until mid-morning, the body remained in a cordoned-off section of Strang Street, about 250 metres from a primary school, as police investigated.
The Linnings described it as a “quiet street” and neither recalled hearing anything on the street before Mr Linning’s girlfriend called.
Detective Senior Sergeant Ron Iddles said police were investigating the death in relation to a burglary and the theft of a 2012 BMW convertible at a nearby house.
Neighbours heard what sounded like a gunshot and a car with a “loud exhaust” accelerating away, Detective Iddles said.
“They heard two men yelling, they can’t distinguish what was being said, then they heard at least one shot and then the car leave,” he said.
The burglary was on Branton Road, near the corner of Strang Street, only metres from where the body was found.
The stolen car belonged to a tradesman who was working a nightshift and returned home to discover police surrounding the area about 5am.
His home had been “ransacked” with jewellery, electrical items and a plasma television stolen, Detective Iddles said.
The TV was located nearby, but the car and other items had not yet been recovered.
Police have identified the victim as a 30-year-old man known to authorities and were on Monday morning racing to contact his next of kin after discovering his Western suburbs home was vacant.
Detective Iddles said the man appeared to have been shot, but the body was yet to undergo a post mortem examination.
“We can speculate it might be two burglers who have had an argument and one has shot his mate, or his co-accused, or it may not be that,” he said.
“It’s very difficult to say, but I think we’re reasonably confident to say that the burglary and the stolen car are now linked to this homicide.”
Police were also making inquiries about a white van found near scene.
Detective Iddles said Police have managed to gather some CCTV footage from houses around the area.
Anyone who has seen the stolen silver BMW convertible, with number plate XZD 499 or has any information that might be relevant is urged to contact authorities.
The cause of the man’s death has not yet been determined.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit www.crimestoppers.com.au.
