AS MANY Ballarat residents yesterday struggled to comprehend the violent death of their mate, at Wendouree, one man tried to come to terms with the loss of his hero.To Chris Brooks, his older brother Steven, 32, was quite simply, "my hero".Steven Brooks died in hospital early Sunday after being shot in a Ballarat North street about 4am.His tearful younger brother yesterday declined to comment further, saying he, his sister and their parents remained too distraught to speak to the media about the death of their eldest brother and first-born child.But the grieving family chose to release a photograph.Police are yet to reveal a motive behind Sunday's shooting, saying only that Mr Brooks and a 36-year-old Delacombe man returned to an address in Ligar St where Mr Brooks had earlier had an argument with another man.The pair had not entered the property when they were confronted by a gunman who shot each of them once in the upper body. Jon Lucas, 28, of Mitchell Park was yesterday remanded in custody in Ballarat Magistrates' Court charged with murder and attempted murder.Online, tributes to Mr Brooks flowed as many friends expressed disbelief over his death."R.I.P Steven Brooks. So many lives destroyed by one senseless act," wrote Gaele on The Courier website.Chris Dunne also posted a simple tribute on the same website."R.I.P mate," he wrote before posting a message on his mate's Facebook page. "What am I going 2 do mate, my best mate in the world has gone and I didn't have time to say goodbye," he wrote."No, no, no it can't be true! Not you! I can't believe you've gone," wrote Kylie Dean, also on his Facebook page."You were one in a million champ. You were my best friend, the love and support you gave to me and the girls was unconditional and never failing."And finally, from Nikki Rogers:"You were such a wonderful person and so dearly loved. So much more you had to give. Wish you were still here."