Five men charged with the murder of an underworld figure have faced court over the alleged "targeted attack" outside a busy shopping centre.
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The group were arrested over the death of Robert Issa, 27, who was gunned down at Craigieburn in Melbourne's north in October 2023.
Their arrests marked a turning point in the investigation, Homicide Squad Detective Inspector Dean Thomas said.
"This is only the beginning. We believe these men were likely the foot soldiers who carried out the murder," he said.
In an attack police said was possibly linked to Melbourne's long-running illegal tobacco wars, four men wearing balaclavas surrounded Mr Issa's Mercedes SUV, firing multiple shots into the passenger side and rear windows as shocked shoppers looked on.
Another man, a 28-year-old from Hadfield, was taken to hospital in a serious condition.
Det Insp Thomas called the shooting incredibly violent, saying it was completely unacceptable for innocent bystanders to be exposed to such danger.
More arrests were imminent, he said.
"There's still people out there with direct knowledge as to the motive, who was involved in the shooting and who has financed and ordered the shooting to take place," Det Insp Thomas said.
"We are determined to identify them and hold them to account."
The five men were arrested in raids across Melbourne's north and east just after 6am on Thursday.
They were each charged with murder, attempted murder and criminal damage by fire.
Kew man Dion Perrone, 29, Pascoe Vale man Bechara Bayrouty, 33, Mickleham man Muhammed Sayan, 31, and Fawkner men Fabio Perrone and Christian Behrndt, both 26, appeared for brief hearings at the Melbourne Magistrates Court late on Thursday.
Victoria Police Detective Senior Constable Kate Shell said there were complexities to the investigation.
She sought an extended 12-week period to develop a brief, pointing to devices seized in the raids, hours of CCTV footage to be compiled and DNA comparisons yet to be done.
A lawyer acting for Fabio Perrone told the court it appeared police alleged his client's involvement related to the arson of a vehicle not at the scene of the shooting, describing that as "a far cry from attempted murder".
Defence lawyers acting on behalf of the other men told the court it was their clients' first time in custody.
The five men were remanded in custody and scheduled to next appear in court on December 4.
Australian Associated Press
