A MAN was shot and a street brawl broke out in a night of violence at Portland tonight.
A Portland hospital spokesman said a 20-year-old man was brought to the emergency department between 5pm and 5.30pm with a gunshot wound to his abdomen.
The spokesman said the man was in a critical condition tonight and medical staff were working to stabilise his condition. The man was brought to the hospital by two others.
Later, a brawl broke out in Barkly Street over a debt, but police declined to speculate whether there was a link between the shooting and the brawl.
Sergeant Martin Flannery, of Portland police, said the brawl involved at least six people, some of whom were armed with baseball bats.
Sergeant Flannery said the brawl took place on the road and was between occupants of a Barkly Street house and visitors about 6.40pm. He said no one appeared to have been injured in the fight and the participants had left the scene by the time police arrived.
Police are appealing for any witnesses to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
