A SHOOTING in the foyer of a Coburg North motel that left a man with critical injuries is believed to have been sparked by an argument over money.

A 29-year-old Reservoir man is undergoing surgery this morning after suffering a gunshot wound to the leg and blunt force trauma to the head.

Police said the man was in a critical but stable condition.

media_camera A detective examines a car after a man was shot in Coburg. Picture: Nicole Garmston

media_camera The injured man is in a critical condition. Picture: Nicole Garmston

media_camera Police speak with occupants of the StayInn Motel in Coburg North. Picture: Nicole Garmston

It is understood the victim was not staying at the motel in Sydney Rd and does not work at the business either.

The Herald Sun reported earlier this year the motel doubles as a transitional housing provider for homeless people on the public housing waiting list and recently released prisoners.

A review on TripAdvisor describes the motel as a “dodgy” place with bullet holes.

Detective Senior Sergeant Brett Kahan said police were searching for multiple people involved in the shooting who are believed to have fled in a car.

Tenants staying the motel said they heard men arguing overnight about money owed to the motel, but Snr Sgt Kahan said the victim is not believed to have any outstanding debts with the motel.

media_camera A detective speaks to a man in Coburg where a man was shot in the leg. Picture: Nicole Garmston

media_camera A woman speaks to detectives at the scene. Picture: Nicole Garmston

Police responded to reports of yelling and a ‘loud bang’ about 3:30am.

The man was co-operating with police before underwent surgery.

Detectives are canvassing the area and have collected CCTV from nearby businesses.

The windows of the StayInn motel have been boarded up and police tape is surrounding the block near the busy intersection in Melbourne’s north.

In January the Herald Sun reported the motel’s website boasted a “comfortable” and “friendly” environment for budget travellers when in reality guests were confronted with a boarded up facade, a wire fence a cracked glass reception door and the possibility of ex-prisoners upon arrival.

The hotel fails to disclose in its advertising blurb that it doubles as a transitional housing provider for homeless people on the public housing waiting list and recently released prisoners.

One woman described the motel on TripAdvisor as a “dodgy place” with bullet holes and “filth”.

“Windows boarded up at the front. Bullets holes in glass. Drugs deals going on outside. Tv bolted down & padlocked. Rattling fridge. Basic doesn’t cut it. Rubbish, butts & filth. I was so afraid I packed the room furniture against the door. The other ‘guests’ were up ALL night. It’s a dodgy dodgy place in a seedy part of town,” the woman who stayed in November last year said.

media_camera Police at the scene this morning. Picture: Nicole Garmston

media_camera The front of the motel where the shooting took place. Picture: Nicole Garmston

Another person wrote that it was the “scariest motel experience” of his life and he and his family left after only staying for an hour.

“Such false advertising, front boarded up, druggies and deals going down. The scariest motel experience me and my family have ever had, left after an hour or so. Rooms are filthy and not fit for animals. There was a knife in the pool,” the person who stayed in October last year wrote.

Responding to the Herald Sun’s article in January the motel’s manager Phillip Alexander said guests’ visits were dependent on who was staying at the time.

“We’re not trying to hide anything, and we don’t filter any of our reviews online,” Mr Alexander said.

“We do the best we can given the circumstances.”

He added that Melbourne’s most marginalised deserved to be have somewhere to stay.

Police are urging anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers.

genevieve.alison@news.com.au