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A man waiting in line outside a Melbourne nightclub is fighting for life in hospital after he was gunned down in a drive-by shooting.

Richard Arow was at the Love Machine nightclub in Prahran about 3.10am on Sunday when four shots were fired from a stolen Porsche.

The 28-year-old was hit along with three others including beloved bouncer Aaron Khalid Osmani, 37, who was hit in the face and died on Sunday afternoon.

Richard Arow (pictured with his girlfriend Rebekah Spinks) is fighting for life in hospital a day after he was gunned down in a drive-by shooting

Worried friends of Mr Arow (pictured left with friends inside a different nightclub) posted about him on social media on Monday afternoon

Social media post by his friends and girlfriend Rebekah Spinks on Monday afternoon suggested Mr Arow had died.

However, Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner Tess Walsh hours later confirmed he was still alive but in a critical condition in hospital.

'Innocent people have been impacted in the most serious way,' she said in reference to Mr Arow.

The Chelsea FC fan's friend Anthony Morello wrote on social media: 'Our friend was innocently standing in the wrong place at the wrong time.

'Your million dollar smile & warm energy was so infectious and would light up any room you walked into.

'One of the friendliest and most cheerful guys I've had the pleasure of meeting... You will be missed by many and remembered for ever as someone with a big beautiful heart.'

Another friend, Pasha Okanlar, blamed himself for Mr Arow being shot as he was not out clubbing with him that night as he often was.

'My heart is broken, brother you were something different like you were a true brother, a real one, always kept it real and kept it 100 per cent,' he wrote. 

'So many laughs so many tears we had my brother, we always had each other's back but on this one time I wasn't there look what happened.'

Mr Arow was believed by friends and family to be dead but police hours later confirmed he was still alive

A third friend, Krystal Jade, wrote: 'Your presence was of pure calmness and positivity. You were truly a well respected soul full of kindness upon every meeting.' 

Assistant Commissioner Walsh said police were not certain who was responsible for the shooting but were investigating links to Middle Eastern and bikie gangs.

'We think this is quite a specific, targeted attack, but we do not understand the motive, nor the people who are involved in it at this time,' she said. 

She said Love Machine's owners had been very cooperative and detectives hoped to review CCTV from venue and nearby for clues.

They would also investigate whether it was linked to other recent underworld-linked shootings.

Assistant Commissioner Walsh asked anyone with information to contact police, particularly those known to the shooters. 

'If you have a firearm about you, then you have the propensity to use them. That's why I plea to family and friends of those involved to provide us with information to help your loved one from escalating this,' she said.

Mr Arow was outside the Love Machine nightclub (crime scene pictured) in Prahran about 3.10am on Sunday when four shots were fired from a stolen Porsche 

Aaron Khalid Osmani, 37, died in hospital from his injuries after he was shot outside the Love Machine Nightclub

Mr Osmani was remembered as a 'beautiful soul' who was loved by all as friends and colleagues flooded social media with tributes to the 'kind soul'.

'My heart is broken... you were the most kind-hearted soul I have met since I started working at Love Machine,' wrote one female worker at the club.

'The most humble security guard I have ever had the pleasure to call a friend.'

'You were everything to me. I'm broken that you are gone,' wrote another. 

Steve Yousif, a host at the nightclub, also took to Facebook after the tragedy.

He said: 'Overwhelmed with all your calls and texts, nothing but love for you all.

'What happened last night was uncalled for and devastating. For some of you it was a night out, the rest of the Love Machine family lost a beautiful soul today.' 

Police are hunting two men (pictured on CCTV) seen running from a burning Porsche used in a drive-by shooting at a nightclub in which a bouncer was killed

 The car was torched in Wollert, north Melbourne after the 3am shooting at Love Machine in Prahran on Sunday

Another bouncer and a male patron, aged 50 and 29, are recovering from non life-threatening injuries. 

Police are hunting two men seen running from a burning Porsche used in the drive-by shooting, which may have been carried out by a bikie gang.

The Love Machine (pictured) was packed with patrons at the time of the shooting

The stolen car was torched in Wollert, north Melbourne after the shooting. 

CCTV images show two men running away from the burnt-out getaway car two hours after the attack. 

Police are investigating if the shooting is linked to recent extortion attempts by the Comancheros gang, reported The Age.

Gang members have reportedly caused trouble at Love Machine and nearby Lux nightclub, which have the same owner, in recent weeks.

They have apparently threatened staff, refused to pay for drinks and demanded payments from the venues known to host bikies, strippers and underworld figures.

Love Machine staff said in a statement on Sunday afternoon: 'We regret to inform you that Love Machine will not be operating tonight.

'The events that occurred outside the venue last night have shocked us deeply and we are working closely with authorities to assist with the ongoing investigation.' 

Police said the attackers did not target anyone in particular and simply fired at the front entrance, likely to attack the club itself.

'They didn't care who they shot at - it's just indiscriminate,' a police source told the Herald Sun.

The Porsche's getaway driver almost crashed in making a hasty escape from the club at about 3.20am. 

It is not known whether the shooter and getaway driver had earlier been in the club.

Police are yet to speak to the victims, or establish a motive for the 'horrific' shooting.  

Detective Inspector Andrew Stamper said no stone would be left unturned in finding those responsible for 'this horrendous act'.  

He described the  victims' injuries as 'horrific'.

'Those gunshot wounds were from a fairly close proximity... so, you know... horrific injuries.

As daylight broke, forensic police spent several hours photographing evidence at the scene

'This is just a horrendous act. It's a busy nightclub, one of the main nightclubs in Melbourne in one of the main entertainment precincts in Melbourne.'   

The nightclub was still packed with patrons at the time of the shooting. They left the venue via a back entrance after police deemed the area safe.

A security guard at the nightclub told Seven's Sunday Sunrise he had no idea there had been a shooting outside and there was no panic inside the venue.

Clothes and bullet casings were also scattered along the footpath outside the nightclub.

The Love Machine is one of Melbourne's most popular nightclubs and was recently refurbished by new owners. 

Police said an investigation is underway and the exact circumstances are still being established.

Police are also reviewing CCTV footage from the vicinity.  

Anyone with information or footage of the incident should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.