A 20-year-old man is fighting for life after what police believe was a random drive by shooting in the bustling party district of the Gold Coast.

The shooter remains at large as police say there appears to be no “rhyme or reason” behind the Brisbane man being hit with a shotgun round at Cavill Avenue, in Surfers Paradise, early on Saturday.

The young man was walking with two friends about 4.30am when a single round was fired through the passenger-side window of a black Ford Ranger ute as it drove past them.

The 20-year-old was hit in the chest, with no known motive behind the shooting, Superintendent Scott Knowles told media.

“It doesn’t appear that the victim, or his friends, knew anybody that was causing any problems or had any issues with anybody,” he said.

“(There) doesn’t appear to (be) any rhyme or reason as to why this incident occurred.”

Ute set alight

The Ranger then did a U-turn and drove along Ferny Avenue towards Southport before taking the motorway north.

The victim was taken to Gold Coast Hospital where he is awaiting surgery. He suffered internal bleeding and his condition remains critical.

Police later found the Ranger engulfed in flames at Pallara, about one hour northwest of Surfers Paradise.

The ute, which had the word “Evolve” written on its side panel, was stolen earlier in the week from Murrumba Downs in the Moreton Bay area, a 90-minute drive from the Gold Coast.

Investigators believe more than one person may have been inside the ute when the shot was fired.

Anyone with dash cam footage from the M1, Pallara or Gold Coast areas that may include vision of a black Ford Ranger utility, or with information about the person or people in the ute, has been urged to contact police.