THE Strathfieldsaye community is in mourning following a tragic fatal shooting at Emu Creek on Friday night.
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Jacob East, 17, of Strathfieldsaye, was fatally wounded while spotlight shooting with three friends.
The Strathfieldsaye teenagers were hunting kangaroos in a paddock near Pendlebury Road at Emu Creek when the accident happened about 10pm.
One of Jacob's close friends, 18-year-old Matt Patterson accidentally discharged his rifle, killing the teenager.
Police confirmed the men were on private property and had permits to shoot kangaroos.
Senior Constable Mia Paterson, from Victoria Police Media, said the incident was not being treated as suspicious and that detectives were investigating as a matter of course.
Sen-Constable Paterson also said there were no indications of silly behaviour.
"Unfortunately, it's just one of those things; it's a shocking thing to happen," she said.
Details of the actual incident are still sketchy.
Jacob's devastated parents, Rod and Ruth, and brother, Zac, were yesterday still waiting for further information.
"We don't know much about it," Mr East said.
"The investigations are being done by Melbourne people and they will come back to us when it is all completed."
Mr and Mrs East said Jacob began spotlight shooting about six months ago.
"It wasn't a regular thing, but he had been several times before," Rod East said.
They said two local police officers came to the house to inform the family of the tragedy.
"We were gutted. We didn't believe it," Mr East said.
"It is still hard to believe; we were in shock."
The family has also spoken to Matt since the accident.
"He has been here and is finding it very tough," Ruth East said.
"We would like to support Matt and we really feel for him, because it was an accident and that's how we see it."
Jacob was a popular and talented sportsman; and had played in the reserves premiership for Mount Pleasant Football-Netball Club three weeks ago.
The 17-year-old also played cricket for the Strathfieldsaye Cricket Club in the Bendigo District Cricket Association.
His parents said Jacob loved life on the property nd nteand had been planning to study agriculture at university.
