At 9.30 last Tuesday night, a 25-year-old Hoppers Crossing man left a friend's house and was jumped from behind by two men.

During the scuffle, a shot was fired, hitting the man in the back of the head.

The offenders ran off and the victim managed to get back to his car and start driving himself to the Werribee Mercy Hospital.

He was later transferred to the Royal Melbourne Hospital.

Armed crime taskforce member Senior Detective Andrew Tait said the victim was "extremely lucky".

"The bullet has gone in behind his left ear and the fragments are still there.

"We have no indication of any motive at all," he said.

A Kings Road resident who asked not to be named said the incident made her feel unsafe.

"I've lived here a very long time. It just makes me not want to go out of the house much any more."

She said she had spoken to many neighbours who were shocked and frightened by the senseless attack. "I heard the gunshot; we looked outside and could see nothing and within 10 minutes there were a heap of jacks [police] and the dog squad all around the street."

The woman said more police were urgently needed on the streets of St Albans.

Senior Detective Tait appealed for witnesses.

"It was callous and not the everyday thing on a suburban street."

Information to Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000.