Detectives from the Homicide Squad have today arrested a man as part of their investigation into the 2023 fatal shooting of Mohammed Keshtiar in South Yarra.
A 23-year-old Narre Warren man was arrested in Dandenong this afternoon with assistance from the Special Operations Group.
He will now be interviewed by police.
Today's arrest follows the death of Keshtiar in South Yarra almost two years ago.
Shortly after 11.35pm on Friday 4 August 2023, Keshtiar and a male associate were walking along Almeida Crescent when an oncoming vehicle approached them.
The vehicle then slowed down and a number of shots were fired, with Keshtiar struck several times.
His associate was not physically injured during the incident and managed to flee the scene to safety.
The car then stopped and a person from the vehicle fired several more shots at Keshtiar before it was driven from the area.
A number of witnesses attempted to administer first aid before emergency services arrived and Keshtiar was conveyed to hospital where he later died.
In September 2024, police announced a $1M reward for information in relation to the fatal shooting and that reward remains on offer.
The investigation remains ongoing.
Police urge anyone with information about the incident to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
Quotes attributable to Assistant Commission Martin O'Brien, Crime Command:
"Today's arrest is incredibly significant for a number of reasons, in particular because of what it represents in terms of organised crime in Victoria.
"This was an incident that involved a confronting level of public violence which could have easily impacted innocent members of the public. For that reason alone, this investigation has remained the highest priority for Victoria Police over the past 20 months.
"It's never been any secret that Keshtiar had significant connections to a number of organised crime groups, which certainly added complexity to the investigation.
"Today's arrest is as a direct result of an incredible amount of work over the past couple of years by investigators from Crime Command, particularly the Homicide Squad. They have also been supported in this investigation by a range of specialist units.
"Every piece of information, every investigative lead has been tirelessly worked through in the hope it would provide the breakthrough detectives needed.
"Most importantly, today's arrest is about holding those involved in organised crime groups at all levels to account and ensuring that the harm they wreak on the community does not go unchecked in any way.
"Our focus remains on identifying all those involved in this incident and we again appeal for anyone who does have information to come forward."
