Three men with baseball bats burst into the man's home. Photo / Thinkstock
A bloodied man dumped a body outside a Melbourne hospital minutes after a late-night home invasion ended in gunshots.
Homicide detectives are now investigating any links between the two incidents, which are separated by only 15 minutes and about 10 kilometres.
"There's a strong possibility that the two are clearly
connected," Detective Inspector John Potter, head of Victoria's homicide squad, told reporters on Thursday.
Police say a 50-year-old homeowner in Somerville was attacked about 2.30am (AEDT) on Thursday while his 14-year-old son was present.
Armed with a baseball bat, three men wearing hooded tops burst into his house, bashing him so violently that his wrist was broken. He was later transferred to hospital with cuts, bruises and a head injury.
During the attack, gunshots were also fired and heard by several neighbours but the homeowner has denied being the shooter.
Detectives can't say why the man was targeted.
The homeowner, who is known to police, claims he doesn't know the three attackers and can't provide a clear description.
Nothing was taken during the attack and no weapons have been found.
But at 2.45am, a young man arrived at the nearby Frankston hospital, trying to get help for his severely injured friend.
Hospital staff heard him banging on the locked doors of the ambulance bay and saw he was covered in blood moments before he fled from the scene.
About 300 metres down the road, police found the body of an unidentified man, believed to be in his 20s.
He had suffered several gunshot wounds, but a post-mortem examination will have to confirm a cause of death.
Police are now trying to identify the victim and the man who dropped him off at the hospital.
"Someone will know this man," Det Insp Potter said, adding that he can't discount the possibility that the man was accidentally shot.
"We don't know what's happened. We need to find out and we need that person to contact us."
Anyone with information is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
- AAP
