Police at the scene of a brawl which occurred after the shooting in Portland on Monday night. Police have not speculated on whether there is a link between the shooting and the brawl.
A CONFRONTATION over a drug debt is believed to have led to an incident in Portland which resulted in a 20-year-old man dying of a gunshot wound yesterday.
A 26-year-old Heywood man has been charged with murder. He has been remanded to appear at the Warrnambool Magistrates Court this morning
Four Victoria Police homicide squad investigators arrived in the city last night after the shooting victim died in hospital following the Monday night incident.
Troy Hocking, 20, presented at the Portland hospital with a gunshot wound to the abdomen about 5.30pm.
Investigators believe his injuries were received during a confrontation on Barkly Street a short time before.
Mr Hocking died in the Royal Melbourne Hospital yesterday morning.
South-west police crime advisor Detective Senior Sergeant Mark Canavan said homicide squad detectives joined detectives from Portland, Warrnambool and Hamilton to execute a warrant at a Barkly Street address late last night.
He said police were continuing to conduct investigations into the circumstances surrounding the fatal shooting and the aim of the warrant was to recover a vehicle which may have been involved .
"We'll execute this warrant and we've got a few other ends to tie up but some of the police officers involved in the investigation will soon have been up and going for the best part of 48 hours," he said.
"We've got to think about having a rest, giving officers a chance to regroup and then getting back into the investigation and interviews tomorrow."
Detective Senior Sergeant Canavan said police were also concerned about the tensions between two groups of people in Portland.
"We want to put a dampener on this bit of feuding attitude which has escalated in the last couple of days with tragic results," he said.
"The investigation is in full swing.
"A man is likely to appear in court tomorrow but as of late tonight no one has been charged.
"A man is continuing to help us with our investigation.
"We'll all be back here tomorrow."
The family of the deceased man was late yesterday making their way from Melbourne back to Portland.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit www.crimestoppers.com.au
athomson@standard.fairfax.com.au
