MELBOURNE — Police have launched a major homicide investigation after a boxer was fatally shot near a bar in Melbourne’s inner northwest early Sunday morning.
The victim, identified as Hussein Dehaini, was found with suspected gunshot wounds on North Street in Ascot Vale at approximately 12:15 a.m. Emergency services responded to the scene and transported him to a hospital in critical condition. Despite medical efforts, Dehaini later died from his injuries.
Authorities are still working to determine the exact circumstances surrounding the shooting. Investigators have not yet established where or how Dehaini was shot, and no arrests have been made.
The suspected gunman remains at large, prompting an extensive police search. Detectives are treating the incident as a targeted homicide and are appealing to the public for assistance as they work to identify the person responsible.
A large crime scene has been established in Ascot Vale, with police cordoning off multiple vehicles and sections of North Street while forensic specialists examine the area for evidence. Investigators are also reviewing CCTV footage from nearby businesses and residences in an effort to track the movements of the shooter and determine what led to the deadly attack.
The shooting occurred near a local bar, where patrons and nearby residents may have witnessed key moments before or after the incident. Police are urging anyone who was in the area around the time of the shooting, or who may have dashcam or surveillance footage, to come forward.
The death of Hussein Dehaini has shocked Melbourne’s boxing community as detectives continue their investigation. Police say inquiries remain ongoing and further information will be released as it becomes available
