- Published:
- Thursday, 31 July 2025 at 3:10 pm
Detectives from the Homicide Squad have this afternoon charged five people with murder as part of their investigation into a fatal shooting in Craigieburn in 2023.
A 29-year-old Kew man, a 31-year-old Mickleham man, a 33-year-old Pascoe Vale man and two 26-year-old Fawkner men were taken into custody shortly after 6am this morning.
All five have been interviewed and subsequently charged with murder, attempted murder and criminal damage by fire.
The quintet will appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court this afternoon.
Today’s arrests follow an incident in Craigieburn almost two years ago where Robert Issa and a male associate were shot.
Just before 3pm on Saturday 7 October 2023, the pair were sitting inside a white Mercedes station wagon parked in the carpark of Craigieburn Central Shopping Centre when a number of shots were fired into the car.
Issa was pulled from the vehicle and a number of witnesses then attempted CPR before emergency services arrived. He was subsequently pronounced deceased at the scene.
The other man inside the vehicle, a now 30-year-old from the northern suburbs, was taken to hospital with serious injuries.
The black Range Rover was located burnt out in Westmeadows a short time later.
Detectives believe there are still others out there with direct knowledge of the motive for the incident and who was involved, including those who may have financed and ordered the hit.
The investigation remains ongoing.
Police urge anyone with information about the incident to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
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