SHOOTING PUTS TWO MEN IN HOSPITAL

Two in hospital with gunshot wounds

DETECTIVES have seized a car in possible connection to an alleged shooting that they say left two men with gunshot wounds.

Officers have remained tight-lipped on the mysterious incident that led them to block off a major Grovedale road for several hours on Sunday morning.

It’s understood investigations started when two men turned up to Geelong hospital’s emergency department with similar gunshot wounds. Police confirmed a 24-year-old man presented at the hospital with gunshot wounds about 4.30am.

An hour later a 22-year-old man also required medical treatment for a similar injury.

Police spokeswoman Melissa Seach said officers believed the men’s injuries were linked.

“Both men have non-life threatening injuries and it’s believed both cases are linked at this stage,” she said.

Hours later, police swarmed Grove Rd and seized a car that they say could be linked to the incident.

It is understood the car had smashed windows.

A woman found near the car at the intersection of Surf Coast Highway and Grove Rd was arrested in relation to possess a drug of dependence. She is assisting police.

The alleged shootings come weeks after latest Crime Statistics Agency data has revealed that prohibited weapons offences in Geelong rose around 9 per cent in the 12 months to March this year.

The data also showed crime in Grovedale rose 38 per cent over the same period from 771 offences in 2018 to 1069 this year. The suburb’s weapons offences increased by 30 per cent.

Superintendent Craig Gillard said at the time that more people were being caught with prohibited weapons including knives, knuckledusters and batons.

“The reason the figure is up is that enforcement is up,” Supt Gillard said.

“We are finding more weapons — but in order for us to find more weapons clearly there is an element of people carrying more weapons.”

Supt Gillard said police were doing all they could to target offenders who were carrying prohibited weapons.

Investigations into yesterday's incident is ongoing. No charges had been laid at time of publication.

Anyone with information in relation to incident should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or Geelong police on 5225 3100.