Two suspects involved in a shooting near a Melbourne nightclub have fled the scene in a stolen luxury SUV before dumping it nearby.
A man, 19, was shot in the hand at Bray Street behind Chapel Street at Prahran around 5.30am on Saturday.
Friends of the victim took the man to The Alfred, where he remains in a stable condition, police said.
The shooter fled the scene in a white Audi Q7 SUV which was found dumped a short distance away at Garden Street, Detective Acting Sergeant Jarrod Westlake told reporters.
"At the moment we believe two people were in the car," Det Act Sgt Westlake said of the suspects.
"We're still trying to establish whether the shot was fired from within the car or whether the shot was fired on the street or whether the offenders simply left in the car."
The suspects are believed to have fled on foot after they dumped the stolen vehicle.
Several shotgun cartridges were found on the footpath next to where the car was dumped, but investigators were checking their potential links to the crime.
"It's too early to say what type of weapon was used," the detective said of the firearm but he added it had not been found.
"The information we have from people... was that one shot was fired."
As the investigation was still at an early stage, police had not yet been able to find links between the shooter or the victim, he said.
The car was also spotted driving around the Chapel St area about 30 minutes before the shooting and the detective urged anyone who saw the vehicle to contact police.
A resident woke up to the sound of shots and scream, he told AAP.
"I heard three or four shots and then lots of screaming - it sounded mostly like women," the man, who didn't wish to be named, told AAP.
"I thought I heard someone say 'I told you he had a gun'."
The shooting took place near popular Chapel Street nightclub Chasers and investigators believed as many as 100 people were outside when the shooting took place.
A club spokesman said the event had finished about 4.30am and people were told to leave the scene.
"There was no violence, there were no issues on the night," the spokesman told AAP.
They had no idea if anyone who was at the venue was involved, he said.
Safety of patrons and people was a priority for traders' in the area, Chapel Street Precinct Association general manager Chrissie Maus said.
"We are not afraid to shine a light on serious issues impacting Chapel Street Precinct traders and we are working together with Stonnington and Prahran Police for shared outcomes on serious matters such as this distressing incident," Ms Maus said.
Businesses had been opening in the area and it was "in part" due to community collaboration with Prahran police and the additional foot patrols, she said.
The shooting comes less than a year after two men were fatally gunned down at the Love Machine nightclub, just streets away.
Australian Associated Press
