He had just dropped one of the women off on Linlithgow Way in Melton West and was driving away when he saw a car parked in the middle of the road. A man dressed in black holding a baseball bat was standing next to the vehicle. "The man hit the [victim's] car with a baseball bat several times," said Detective Inspector Dean Thomas from the Armed Crime Squad. The victim after he was shot in Melton last year. Credit:Victoria Police Shots were then fired from a rifle as the victim drove away. "He was pursued by that particular vehicle through to the intersection of Centenary Road and Coburns Road in Melton ... the occupants of the white vehicle fired at [the victim's] vehicle again and this time the shot has hit him in the face."

The victim was then able to drive to a service station on Sherwin Court where his passenger called triple zero. "The motive for this we don't know at this point. We have to keep an open mind. Obviously if we locate these people involved we will be able to work this out," said Detective Inspector Thomas said. "It's extremely concerning. It was very lucky it's not a homicide investigation." Detective Inspector Dean Thomas from the Armed Crime Squad speaks about the investigation. Credit:Simone Fox Koob Armed Crime Squad detectives have released footage of a vehicle they are searching for after a man was shot in the face in Melton last year. Credit:Victoria Police Police have spoken to the victim and his passengers as part of their investigation and have been unable to identify a motive. They appealed for information after the shooting last year but have not made any arrests.

Loading The victim was rushed to hospital with serious injuries and placed in an induced coma for four days. He still requires ongoing medical treatment and has a large scar on his jaw which he says will never go away. "My mouth is in constant pain. Even at work… it makes me go home because of the pain. It gets me down often,” he said. “I see flashbacks everyday ... I see the shooting, I can remember the blood on the floor, driving around getting chased, going into the ambulance. That plays over in my mind every day.” “I thought that I was going to die in the hospital … it was very lonely. It was one of the worst times of my life."

The man, aged in his 40s, said after the first shots were fired he felt as if he was “running for his life”. His priority then became the safety of the young female passenger. A rush of adrenalin meant he was able to get into the service station to ask for help. “When I heard the bullet go through the window I realised that my jaw had been smashed. I could see the bullet hole, the blood coming out of my mouth, and I lost teeth and my mouth doesn't line up anymore so I have numbness. I realised my jaw wasn’t working ... It was bleeding a lot," he said. He said the incident had traumatised him and stopped him from volunteering as much with the church community.

"I struggle driving at night, I struggle helping with the church. I took a lot of time to bring young people to church because they didn't have cars ... A lot of that has stopped because I can't do it. I'm ducking my head when I'm driving in my car, looking out for people coming alongside me. Loading "I've gone through red lights because I'm thinking someone is behind me. I'm always constantly thinking it's going to happen again," he said. The motive also remains a mystery to him. "I have no idea why. I just have no idea. I'm just an ordinary guy who has a passion to help people. All I was doing was going to go home and three days later go on holiday. That's what I missed out on," he said.

An image of a white Holden, possibly a white HSV club sport, following the victim's vehicle has also been released as police search for the offenders. They believe at least two people were in the car. One of the male suspects is described as Caucasian, wearing all black. He was armed with a baseball bat and long-arm firearm. Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au