'Those weren't firecrackers': Witness recounts night of fatal shooting in Whitehorse

Hoby Irwin was at home in Porter Creek on Saturday evening, doing some housework, when he heard "three loud pops" outside.

• Police ID victim in fatal Whitehorse shooting

"My first thought was there's some guy on our street who likes to throw firecrackers out," he recalled."Then I suddenly realized those weren't firecrackers."

Irwin ran outside, and immediately heard two more shots. Then he saw what he thought was a black minivandrive out of thecul-de-sac"at full speed," and an injured man lying on the ground with some people kneeling near him.

By then, another neighbour had arrived with a phone.

"Call 911 and get an ambulance here I think the guy's been shot!" Irwin told him.

Somebystanders tried to administer first aid, before police and ambulance arrived.

"They were telling him, 'don't close your eyes, don't close your eyes,'" Irwin said.

'No winners in this'

Police have identified the victim as 32-year-old Matthew Devellano, and say they are treating the incident as a homicide.

As of Wednesday night, police had interviewed dozens of neighbours and witnesses butno arrests hadbeen made.

Police have asked for anybody with information about a dark-colouredminivanto contact them. They say the van may be red or maroon.

Irwin said he's already spoken to police.

"Unfortunately,because it was so dark, I didn't see who was in the minivan. I didn't see the licence plate number. He didn't have his lights on. I mean, he was moving very fast," he said.

Irwin said the incident has disturbed him. He says he feels sorry for the victim, but also the shooter, "because his life's ruined.

"There's no winners in this at all. It's all bad news," Irwin said.