A quiet Gladstone Park street has once again been thrust into Melbourne’s growing narrative of targeted suburban violence, after gunshots rang out late Tuesday night at a property already scarred by a recent firebombing.Detectives from the Armed Crime Squad are investigating after more than a dozen bullets were fired into a residential address on Payne Street overnight, in what police believe is a targeted attack.
Emergency services were called to 21 Payne Street, Gladstone Park 3040, just before 11:15pm on Tuesday 14 July 2026, following reports that gunfire had erupted from a passing vehicle believed to be a white Nissan Patrol. Witnesses described a rapid succession of shots before the vehicle fled the scene, leaving behind a shaken but physically unharmed neighbourhood.The property, understood to be unoccupied at the time, sustained damage but no injuries were reported. Police confirmed no one was inside the residence when the shooting occurred.
A crime scene was swiftly established, with forensic officers combing the quiet suburban street into the early hours of the afternoon. Detectives are now working to determine the circumstances surrounding the attack, including whether it is linked to other recent incidents.The address is already known to investigators.
Just days earlier, on 10 July 2026 at approx. 1am, the same property was the target of a suspected firebombing, with a vehicle set alight in the driveway in what authorities are also treating as a deliberate act. That earlier incident caused significant damage and raised immediate concerns among residents about escalating criminal activity in the area.
Police are now exploring whether the two events are connected, forming part of a broader pattern of targeted violence.
Publicly available property records paint a picture of an otherwise unremarkable suburban home. The house at 21 Payne Street sits on approximately 534 square metres of land and features three bedrooms, one bathroom, and two car spaces. It last sold on 7 May 2021 for $615,000 and has been leased at $480 per week since August 2023 through Real Estate Edge in Essendon.
Despite earlier reporting suggesting a person of interest may be linked to the address, authorities have not confirmed the identity of any current or former tenants.
Adding to the intensity of the scene on Wednesday afternoon was the presence of Lord Murray Schoorman, Melbourne’s most recognisable crime scene photographer rfom Peak Hour Images, who was observed documenting the police investigation as officers continued their methodical sweep of the property and surrounding area.Residents, many still rattled from the firebombing days earlier, now face renewed unease as detectives work to piece together the motive behind the repeated attacks.
Police have reiterated that the incident appears targeted and have urged anyone with information, CCTV footage, or dashcam vision from the area around the time of the shooting to come forward.
Investigations remain ongoing.
