Five alleged 'foot soldiers' arrested over Melbourne car park shooting of Robert Issa
The group, aged between 26 and 33, was taken into custody before police raided six addresses in Kew, Mickleham, Pascoe Vale and Fawkner early on Thursday.
The five men are now being interviewed by detectives.
Mr Issa, 27, was sitting next to a male associate in a white Mercedes station wagon parked outside the Craigieburn Central shopping centre when the incident unfolded on October 7, 2023.
Police allege a black Range Rover pulled up before a number of men got out and fired multiple shots into the other vehicle.
The 27-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene. His associate was seriously injured.
Police believe the killing was a targeted attack between organised crime figures but say they have an "open mind" as to the motive.
Detective Inspector Dean Thomas from the Homicide Squad told reporters on Thursday that the arrests came nearly two years into a "significant" and "protracted" investigation.
"These arrests are a turning point in this investigation, but they are only the beginning," he said.
"We believe these men were likely the foot soldiers who carried out the [alleged] murder, but we believe there are also people further up the chain who are responsible for ordering this attack.
"At this stage, we believe this was a targeted attack and we are confident there is some organised crime involvement in this. We keep an open mind as to what that is."
The detective repeatedly appealed for members of the public to come forward with information as police work to identify who ordered and paid for the shooting.
The incident took place at about 3pm on a Saturday in a relatively full car park as members of the public carried out their shopping.
"There were families going about their business. Children walking through the car park," Detective Inspector Thomas said.
"It could very well have ended with other people, other innocent people perhaps, being injured or killed."
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