Ligar St shooting death: Man charged with murder

A 28-YEAR-OLD Mitchell Park man has been charged with murder after two men were shot in Ballarat North yesterday.Steven Brooks, 32, of Wendouree, was fatally wounded and a 36-year-old Delacombe man seriously injured when they were each shot once in the upper body outside a Ligar St home about 4am.Homicide squad detectives launched a search for the gunman after the Delacombe man drove himself and Mr Brooks to Ballarat Health Services Base Hospital for treatment.Both were rushed into emergency surgery but Mr Brooks died about 6.30am.The search ended nearly 12 hours later when the Mitchell Park man gave himself up at Ballarat police station about 6pm.He was charged with murder and attempted murder and was remanded in custody to appear in Ballarat Magistrates Court this morning.Homicide squad Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Gerard Clanchy said the shooting happened when Mr Brooks and his friend returned to a Ligar St residence where Mr Brooks had earlier had an argument with another man.He said upon their return, the pair were confronted by a gunman in the street and each was shot once.Both victims attempted to flee on foot, but Mr Brooks staggered less than 50 metres before collapsing on the bitumen, Det Act Sen Sgt Clanchy said."It all occurred in the street. After they were shot, both the victims ran along Ligar St and one has collapsed in the street," he said."The other one returned, got the vehicle, picked up the other injured party and drove to hospital."He said the motive for the shooting was still under investigation and police were last night waiting to interview the Delacombe man, who remained in a serious but stable condition.Det Act Sen Sgt Clanchy said all parties involved in the shooting knew each other, as well as a man and woman whose home the incident happened outside."We believe all parties are known to each other so it's certainly not a random act," he said.Det Sen Sgt Clanchy said it was not believed there had been a party or gathering at the residence prior to the shooting and drugs were yet to be ruled out as behind the killing."We are still investigating the motive, that (drugs) may be one avenue but until we speak to more people we don't really know at this stage," he said.Ligar St was cordoned off as a crime scene between Howitt St and Walker St from just after 11am yesterday as forensic investigators scoured the scene.