A young Melbourne man who was fatally shot after reportedly rushing to help a friend had been celebrating his engagement with family and friends only a short time before his death.
Footage shared online shows 22-year-old Daniel Hussein enjoying the celebration alongside his father, Taleb, and surrounded by loved ones, before he was later killed at a sports oval in Thomastown, in Melbourne’s north.
Mr Hussein, a young plumber who was due to marry later this year, was found with a critical gunshot wound about 7.30pm on Sunday. Despite efforts at the scene, he could not be saved.
In the moments before the shooting, Mr Hussein had reportedly sent an alarming message to relatives, telling them he believed he was being followed by a mysterious unregistered black Porsche.
His uncle, Abdallah Hussein, posted the engagement party video to social media, writing: “I never imagined I would one day be sharing memories of you.”
‘More than 150,000 people have seen your story. Thousands have cried, prayed, shared and spoken your name.
‘But behind every view, every comment and every prayer… there is you. My Daniel.’
Abdallah said the video had been captured by his nephew’s father, who could be seen receiving a kiss from his son in the celebration video.
Daniel Hussein, 22, was found at the scene suffering a gunshot wound and died there
Daniel Hussein’s (left) father Taleb (right) made a video call to Daniel’s uncle at his recent engagement party
‘I was supposed to be there,’ he added. ‘I was supposed to celebrate with you. I was supposed to watch you build your life.
‘Instead, I’m sitting here listening to that voice … wishing with all my heart that I could go back to that day.
‘I would give anything for one more day with you. One more laugh. One more hug. One more “Uncle”. You were never just my nephew. You were a piece of my heart.’
Daily Mail has contacted the family for comment.
On Tuesday, tributes flooded social media for the murdered tradie as detectives continued to hunt for his killer.
It is understood Mr Hussein may have been in the reserve’s carpark helping a friend involved in their own dispute when he was targeted.
A crime scene was established on Sunday, with part of Victoria Drive cordoned off and multiple police cars at the scene overnight.
Apparent blood stains remained visible in the car park when detectives re-opened the area around 5.30am on Monday.
Daniel’s friends and family began gathering at the scene shortly after the shooting
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Spots of blood in the car park where Mr Hussein was shot
The park where Mr Hussein was found had been used all day for junior soccer matches hosted by Uren Reserve’s home club of Lalor United Sloga Football Club.
Mr Hussein’s brother, Ali, later told reporters his brother had died trying to help a mate.
‘His friend got into a brawl and called my brother,’ Ali Hussein said. ‘My brother pulled up (in his car) and they shot my brother. His car was still running.’
His brother claimed a dispute in Melbourne CBD a night earlier had led to the fatal shooting.
He described his brother as a ‘sensible young man’ who knew what he wanted in life after recently completing his plumbing apprenticeship.
‘He’d come home from work and go straight to the gym – he was into his fitness,’ he told The Age.
‘Out of four brothers, he was the youngest. He’d learnt from our mistakes. He was straight-headed and had his own house,’ Ali said.
As police continue to investigate the tragedy, online trolls have insisted Mr Hussein was embroiled in Melbourne’s ongoing tit-for-tat gangland war.
But friends and family have vehemently denied the claims.
Daniel Hussein planted a kiss on his dad during his engagement party while his uncle Abdallah looked on
‘People are quick at judging the situation when they don’t know. No-one should be taking no-one’s life – they should be leaving this earth caused by illness,’ one person stated.
‘As the saying goes, “Never judge a book by its cover.” May his young soul RIP.’
A neighbour told the Herald Sun on Monday they heard screaming and yelling for several seconds before an SUV reversed out of the reserve’s driveway.
Mr Hussein jumped onto the vehicle, kicking at the bonnet and headlights, before falling to the ground as the car drove away, the neighbour said.
They said it was unclear at what point Mr Hussein had been shot.
‘He managed to walk towards the footpath and that’s where he collapsed,’ the neighbour said.
Anyone who witnessed the incident, with CCTV/dashcam footage or information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.