Police believe a Deer Park man whose body was found inside his home on Monday may have been shot dead a week ago.
Detective Inspector Tim Day said a visitor to the deceased man’s Erin Square home found the 49-year-old victim just before 4.30pm.
He said the visitor gained access to the house and found the body inside with what appeared to be a bullet wound. After attempting to rouse the victim, the visitor went next door and raised the alarm with a neighbour.
Detective Inspector Day said neighbours have told police they heard gunshots about 3am last Tuesday, leading detectives to believe the victim might have been killed six days ago.
Detectives believe the man, of Asian background, sewed clothes at the address, but said it was too early to know whether his death was related to any of his business dealings. They have urged anyone who has had any business dealings with him to contact police.
Homicide detectives remain at a home in Deer Park after the body of a man was found inside. #9Newst.co/NeTa9wBoyE
— Nine News Melbourne (@9NewsMelb) June 26, 2017
Little information has been released about the investigation.
Detective Inspector Day said the victim has relatives in Victoria, and his identity would be released once police have spoken to them.
Erin Square is expected to be roped off until later today.
Neighbour Leo Henry said the deceased man mostly kept to himself and was rarely seen outside.
However, he said there were always people “coming in and out of” the man’s house.
Mr Henry said he believed the man lived alone and had rented the Erin Square house for about six years.
“His brother lived with him before he moved to Sydney a little while ago,” he said.
Mr Henry said neighbours had been left reeling by the man’s death.
“He was a nice man, a very nice man,” he said.
With Melissa Cunningham and Tom Cowie
