UPDATE: Police have arrested and charged two men over a Kingsville armed robbery and shooting in 2011.
Police recently released CCTV footage in the hope of identifying the offenders.
The pair, one armed with a sawn-off shotgun, are alleged to have entered the bottle shop on Geelong Road about 7.45pm on October 1 and threatened staff before firing a shot into the cash register in an attempt to steal cash.
They escaped with alcohol, shooting a driver in a nearby vehicle as they fled.
The South Kingsville man aged in his 50s received serious gun-shot injuries to his hand and arm.
Inspector Stephen Clark said the incident can only be described as an unprovoked and unnecessarily violent attack.
“It’s only for the grace of God that our victim was not more seriously injured or worse.
“The two males entered a bottle shop, they’ve threatened the female attendant, they’ve discharged a shot from a shotgun at a till, which was unnecessarily violent, they’ve fled the scene and our victim has driven around the corner, been confronted by a male who has approached the car and fired a shot from the shotgun through the driver’s side window.
“Our victim sustained injuries that have required ongoing medical treatment in addition to the psychological trauma he’s suffered.”
Inspector Clark said police had recovered a firearm that may have been involved in the incidents.
“This is a terrible crime, we’ve got two people traumatised.”
The gunshot victim said he had driven around the corner into Kingsville Street when he encountered a man who seemed quite agitated and disturbed.
“I wasn’t aware at that stage it was a gun. By the time I got the car into drive to head off there was a large noise at the side of the car and I pretty quickly released I had quite significant damage to my hand.
“I feel quite unlucky but given what happened I do appreciate it could have been a whole lot worse.”
He said the incident was horrific and has coloured his two children’s view on life.
