Residents on Dow Street in Port Melbourne reported being woken by a gunshot and screaming just before 5am.
“It was just followed by violence. Just loud violence. Definitely Tasering,” a nearby resident told 9News.
“There was just lots and lots of screaming.”
A 33-year-old Keilor East man was found on a unit balcony with serious injuries to his upper body and was rushed to hospital in a stable condition.
He remains there with serious injuries.
Detectives swarmed the building, trapping the group of alleged offenders in the communal barbecue area upstairs.
Officers seized weapons, including a gun and items allegedly used for a kidnapping, with investigators looking at whether the man had been abducted.
“We believe they’re known to each other. The motive … we still haven’t established that,” Detective Adam Tilley said.
Two women and five men, all aged in their 30s, were being questioned by police.
They have all since been charged with reckless conduct endangering serious injury, causing serious injury intentionally in circumstances of gross violence, false imprisonment, possessing a firearm and several other offences.
The alleged offenders include a 35-year-old man from Clayton South, who was hit with an additional firearm charge, a 36-year-old man from Dandenong North, a 38-year-old man from Vermont, a 27-year-old man from Box Hill, a 33-year-old woman from Clayton South, a 34-year-old man from Springvale a 35-year-old woman from Port Melbourne.
They will all appear in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court today.
Residents told 9News the Dow Street building was raided by police in recent months.
Police said none of the persons of interest nor the victim had been cooperating with investigating officers.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
