John Latorre, the man gunned down in the driveway of his Melbourne home, had including links to an international drug trafficker and a brother found to be involved in a 1998 murder, it has been revealed.
The 64-year-old was shot dead outside his property on Buchanan Pl in Greenvale on his way to work just after 4.30am on Tuesday.
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Latorre, a fruit and vegetable wholesaler, reportedly had links to Melbourne’s Italian mafia.
Police said Latorre was approached by an unknown person or persons as he walked out of his garage.
He was shot in the upper body and died at the scene, with a member of his family finding him in his driveway.
Latorre has now been linked to international drug trafficker Frank Madafferi.
It’s believed the 64-year-old visited Madafferi in jail.
Latorre’s brother Vincent, who was seen visiting the scene of the shooting, has an extensive criminal background.
He was jailed for more than a decade in 2009 for blackmailing business rivals, and was later found to be involved in the murder of a 20-year-old in 1998.
An inquest in 2007 found Vincent had either killed or aided in the death of Shepparton man Rocco Iaria, whose body was found dumped in a grave.
Latorre was a prominent businessman and the co-owner of Latorre Fresh Produce.
It’s believed he was preparing to leave his home for the Epping fruit market when he was ambushed in what police said was a targeted attack.
John Latorre, 64. Credit: 7NEWS
It is unclear how the shooter or shooters left the scene.
Former Victoria Police homicide detective Charlie Bezzina said the attack showed “a lot of professionalism” and knowledge of Latorre’s movements.
He said it was a possibility that Latorre had no idea he had a target on his back.
“The fact that he walked out of his garage to his motor car is indicative that he obviously had no threats against him, he didn’t fear for anything,” he told 7NEWS.
Police at the scene in Greenvale. Credit: 7NEWS
On Tuesday, Detective Senior Sergeant Danny Travaglini could not confirm if the attack was gang related, saying there was nothing yet to suggest any revenge attacks.
He said police were handling the case as a “high-priority” in the event the shooting was related to organised crime.
“That’s where Victoria Police approach such investigations as a high priority … to ensure we mitigate any further risk,” Travaglini said.
“We obviously have proactive units within Victoria Police to try to disrupt and impact organised crime to ensure that retaliation and other activities don’t occur.”
Police are asking anyone in the area with information or CCTV footage to come forward.
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