Police were trying to determine the man’s movements before he was shot dead, and said they did not know how many people they were looking for in relation to the attack.

Homicide detectives say the fatal shooting of a man at a strip of shops in Glenroy, in Melbourne’s north, early on Good Friday appears to have been a targeted attack. 

The man was shot dead in a car park on Justin Avenue just after 4.30 a.m. on Friday.

Nearby residents had alerted police to the sound of a gunshot. Neighbours said they heard one shot fired in the area at about 4.30 a.m.

Emergency services treated the man but he died at the scene.

Detective Inspector Dean Thomas said the man was found lying next to a red Hyundai i30 that police believe he was driving in the lead-up to his death.

Victoria police were trying to determine the man’s movements before he was shot dead.

“At the moment investigators are trying to determine his movements. Trying to determine exactly why he was here and obviously where he was prior,” Thomas said.

Police would not reveal the dead man’s identity, but Thomas said he was known to police and had a criminal record.

“I stress at this stage that it appears to be a targeted attack. Again, as I say, the deceased is known to police and does have criminal history,” he said.

“There is absolutely nothing to link this to any of the tobacco incidents that have been occurring, or any other homicides or other shootings that have occurred. But we keep an open mind with everything we do.”

A crime scene has been established, with police investigating the circumstances surrounding the shooting.

Victoria police homicide squad detectives are appealing for anyone who saw the car to come forward.

“We have a lot of work ahead of us,” Thomas said.

“The appeal this morning is for anyone out there that has information to share that with us.”