POLICE have swooped on BMWs but are yet to find a driver who shot a shopper at point-blank range in front of his four nieces in a supermarket carpark.

The 30-year-old victim, who returned a "friendly" wave before he was shot in the thigh by the driver of a black BMW, had just parked outside Safeway in High St, Lalor, at 10pm on Wednesday, when the incident occurred.

The man recognised the late-model black BMW 3 series sedan, having passed it moments earlier on High St and returning what he believed had been a friendly wave.

The victim, from Epping, stepped outside his car - with his nieces aged 12 to 17 inside - when the BMW driver wound down the passenger window and asked: "What's your problem?"

The driver, still sitting in his car, pulled out a gun and within seconds shot the other man in the left upper thigh.

Investigators said the victim was lucky to be alive.

He remains in a serious condition in hospital.

Shoppers told police the shooter immediately sped off and was last seen driving west on Hurtle St.

Det-ActingSen-Sgt Brett Kahan from the armed crime taskforce said the shooting appeared to be without motive and could have been fatal.

"There was no such argument or altercation; we're not in a position to say what the motive of the shooting was," he said.

"This is what makes this shooting so serious and rare.

"The victim believes the gunman has waved towards him and he has waved back.

"He didn't pay any further attention towards it until he was confronted in the car park.

"We believe he asked the victim what his problem was ... there's nothing to suggest there was anything inflammatory from the victim."

Sgt Kahan said the victim's young nieces had been left traumatised by the attack.

Sgt Kahan said the incident was not captured on CCTV.

"We spoke to the victim post and pre-surgery.

"I think he's as stunned about this incident as anyone," he said.

The victim was at the Royal Melbourne Hospital in a serious condition last night.

The gunman, believed to be aged between 25 and 35 with dark hair, remains at large.

In an unrelated incident, a man was stabbed repeatedly at a home in Bendigo hours later.

Emergency crews were called to the O'Neill St home at 1am to find a man in the backyard with stab wounds.

The 38-year-old Bendigo North man was taken to Bendigo Base hospital where he was treated.

He is recovering from injuries.

Anyone with information on either attack is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or at crimestoppers.com.au

erin.marie@news.com.au

Originally published as Police hunt for carpark shooter