A man has died after he was hit in the chest when his home was sprayed with gunfire about 3.45am on Tuesday.

The man was inside his home in the Melbourne suburb of Thomastown when the attack occurred.

He was taken to the Royal Melbourne Hospital in a critical condition, but later died from his injuries, Victoria Police confirmed on Tuesday morning.

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A four-year-old boy was inside the home at the time of the attack. He was taken to hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.

Police said there was also a number of other people at the home, but no-one else was injured.

Neighbour Jayden McCoy told ABC News there was crying and screaming coming from the house that was targeted.

“I heard what sounded to be six shots or a car blowing out. The first two shots were singular, they kind of went ‘one, two’, then the next ones were in quick succession,” he said.

“I ran outside the front of my house and that’s when I heard the first scream.”

Mr McCoy said the situation was frightening.

“I didn’t really know what was [happening], I think I was in shock for the majority of it,” he said.

Another neighbour said it sounded like a drive-by attack.

Police urged anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers.