FEARS of tit-for-tat violence have emerged after a member of a notorious Melbourne crime family was wounded by gunfire.
The 30-year-old man was blasted in the leg on Wednesday night in what might have been a revenge attack over an earlier shooting.
The latest victim is from a crime clan involved in brutal offences throughout the northwestern suburbs for years.
He had been in the driveway of his Bladen Place, Gladstone Park, home when the gunman struck.
That attack came days after a man was shot at another Gladstone Park address, sparking fears the Bladen Place incident was a payback.
The family are the subject of police Taskforce Lased, which is investigating its involvement in serious crime.
Detectives believe the family is linked to large-scale drug dealing, shootings, witness intimidation, bashings, kidnappings, road rage attacks, blackmail and knife crimes.
They have taunted police with claims that they have better guns.
Victims of the hot-headed family have been shot and attacked with machetes just for looking the wrong way.
The gunman involved in Wednesday night's incident was last seen fleeing into Wolverton Drive.
His victim was taken to the Royal Melbourne Hospital in a serious but stable condition.
Victoria Police spokeswoman Marika Fengler said detectives from the armed crime taskforce were investigating.
"Taskforce detectives are working on a number of inquiries in relation to the two shootings, and are channelling considerable police resources into these intense investigations," Ms Fengler said.
