YARRA: Fourth murder charge at Fitzroy


Homicide Squad detectives have charged a fourth man following a fatal shooting in Fitzroy.
A 20-year-old Heidelberg man was taken into custody by the Special Operations Group and has since been charged with one count of murder.
He was to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court.
A 31-year-old Heidelberg man also arrested was released pending further enquiries.
With assistance from the Gang Crime Squad and VIPER Taskforce, six search warrants were executed at residential addresses in Thomastown, Heidelberg (3) and Heidelberg West (2).
Two shotguns were seized from the Thomastown property.
Three men have been previously charged with murder in relation to the investigation including a 21-year-old Heidelberg man arrested at Melbourne Airport on January 19 and two men, a 19-year-old from Heidelberg West and a 20-year-old from Bundoora on January 11.
All three have been remanded to appear before Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on June 15.
The charges follow the fatal shooting a boy near the intersection of Brunswick and King William Sts just after midnight on Saturday, January 3.
Medical assistance was provided however the 16-year-old Fitzroy boy passed away at the scene.
Police are continuing to work to establish whether there are any links between the Fitzroy shooting and the stabbing of two men in Carlton on December 31.
Victoria Police Crime Command detectives, together with regional police and other specialist units including Taskforce VIPER, have established Operation Firelong to investigate both incidents and prevent ongoing violence.
The investigations remain ongoing.