A NORLANE man with a long history of violent crime was killed in a suburban drive-by shooting, with police yet to determine if it was a random attack.

Paul Cochrane, 36, was shot by an occupant of a car that stopped briefly on Anakie Rd, near the Furner Ave intersection in Bell Post Hill, shortly after 11pm Tuesday.

media_camera Police at the scene on Wednesday morning.

Despite the best efforts of neighbours to save him, including a registered nurse who lives nearby, he died minutes later.

Margaret Day, who lives on Anakie Rd where the drive-by shooting took place, said the 36-year-old man’s final words were “I’m bleeding to death. I can’t breathe”.

“It was terrible, like, I could nearly feel his physical form go,” Ms Day said.

“He was so sorry for even how he was dying, and no one should feel like that. It was quite heart wrenching.”

Multiple neighbours rang triple-0 before a crime had been committed, but even then it was too late as a number of people witnessed the horror of a man being shot metres from their homes.

His body lay on the road overnight and well into the morning.

Those who weren’t out on the street when tragedy struck couldn’t escape the sound of the gunshot they said rang out as far as 300m away.

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It brought back painful memories for Lily Japundzic.

“I was in my bedroom and I heard lots of yelling, then one loud gunshot,” she said.

“For me it was very terrible because I came from a war zone in Croatia. I heard the shot and immediately ducked down.

“My husband thought it was a car crash, but after spending three months in a war I knew.”

Ms Japundzic said the man was alive for five to 10 minutes after the fatal shot was fired.

Homicide Squad Detective Sergeant Graham Ross said the victim had been arguing with “at least one female” and was seen walking on the street, waving his arms at passing cars before the shooting.

“So we’ve had a number of members of the public call triple-0 last night ... reporting an argument between a male and a female,” he said on Wednesday.

“The male at that point was walking in the middle of the road ... he was waving his arms around at approaching cars coming along Anakie Rd.

“One of those vehicles has stopped, there’s been a confrontation, altercation with the occupant of that vehicle and shortly after he’s been shot.”

The car, described as a dark coloured sedan, left the scene in an unknown direction as residents rushed over to help Mr Cochrane who lay bleeding on the road.

The shooter is still on the run and no arrests have been made.

Friends took to social media to express their sympathy in online tributes to Mr Cochrane.

Det-Sgt Ross said police were investigating whether Mr Cochrane was known to the offender.

“We’re trying to analyse whether this is a random attack by a motorist who was just driving down the road. That’s the most concerning thing for us at the moment,” Det-Sgt Ross said.

“Again, it’s too early in this investigation to jump to any conclusions as to why this has happened.”

He could not confirm what type of firearm was used or how many shots were fired, and said a post mortem would reveal more details.

According to witnesses, the sound of the gunshot rang out as far as 300m away.

A handcuffed man was seen sitting on the gutter shortly after, near an intercepted Holden Commodore, but his involvement is unclear.

media_camera Resident Margaret Day tried to save Mr Cochrane.

A number of young teenage girls were also questioned before being released about 1am.

Police spent the rest of the morning door-knocking the area and taking statements from neighbours.

One said there were often loud arguments at the property, with cars seen coming and going at all hours.

“I heard the shot but didn’t know if it was someone banging on their door,” one man said.

“There was an argument going on and the next thing I heard was bang and the sheila carrying on.”

Others said they were horrified to see such a violent crime committed in their suburb.

“I was in bed more than a block away and heard the shot from the gun,” a second man said.

“It’s not something you see here at all.”

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.