Tributes are flowing for a “well loved” Melbourne doctor who was killed during a suspected aggravated burglary in Melbourne’s east over the weekend.
A medical centre has identified one of its GPs, Dr Ashley Gordon, as the man whose body was found by police officers on a street in Doncaster at about 5.30am on Saturday.
Victoria police on Monday alleged a 33-year-old Doncaster man was the victim of a burglary.
Box Hill Superclinic’s website said Gordon was “well loved and respected by everyone”.
“We regret to share the shocking news that our beloved colleague has tragically passed away following a home invasion,” a post on the website read.
“We cannot imagine what his family and loved ones must be going through as our team share in their grief.”
On Monday, Gordon’s sister, Natalie, called for those involved in the violent killing to come forward.
“It’s an absolute disgrace to mankind to do something to someone so, so wonderful and the world is a worse place now because he’s been taken from us. Not only us, but the wider community,” she said in comments reported by the Herald Sun.
She remembered her sibling as the “best big little brother”.
“He was the absolute apple of our family’s eye. Every single one of us was so proud of him and everything he had achieved in his life, so we are really struggling to lose him so tragically,” she said.
“He was such a cheeky, lighthearted, fun person. He gave his all to everyone in his family, in his job.”
On the Box Hill clinic’s Facebook page, patients expressed grief and shock over the news.
One woman said she was “so broken” by the news about her family doctor’s death.
“He went above and beyond,” she said. “We cannot process this … ”
On Sunday Channel Nine reported that handwritten tribute notes left at the scene described Gordon as a “true gentleman”.
“Intelligent, honest, compassionate, friendly, generous,” one note read.
Federal Liberal MP Keith Wolahan, whose electorate of Menzies includes Doncaster, expressed condolences to Gordon’s family and friends.
Police said it was understood the man was a victim of an aggravated burglary on Sargent Street, Doncaster shortly before he was located on Eildon Street, about a 12-minute walk away. He died at the scene.
The Herald Sun on Monday reported allegations that Gordon had chased thieves who burgled his home on Sargent Street before they later stabbed the doctor and hit him with a car.
Homicide squad detectives are investigating the death.
Inspector Carlie Kohler told reporters on Saturday the incident was a “tragic set of circumstances”.
It is still unclear whether the victim knew his attacker and if the aggravated burglary was a targeted incident. No arrests have been made.
The nature of the man’s injuries and whether or not a weapon was used is also yet to be established, Kohler said.
As investigations continued, the inspector said there would be an increased focus on community safety.
“I wanted to reassure the public that we have increased our patrols and our presence within the community, and we will continue to do so,” she said.
