The best explanation offered is that the grocer was shot in a case of mistaken identity as he headed from his Croyden home at 2am to pick up the day's fruit and vegetable order.
Aaron Ong was jailed for 35 years by Victorian Supreme Court Justice Christopher Beale on Thursday, while Josh Rider was sentenced to 30 years.
The Mongols bikies staked out Mr Virgona's home for hours in a stolen Mercedes before following him toward Epping Markets in the early hours of November 9, 2019.
It's not clear which role either played in killing Mr Virgona, the business-owning father of two, except that both were in the car.
They pulled alongside Mr Virgona on Eastlink and 11 shots were fired by the passenger from a semi-automatic handgun.
Mr Virgona was struck seven times below the waist.
As the Mercedes sped away, Mr Virgona's van spun out of control and he was found dead by police behind the wheel, his phone in his lap.
The court heard Mr Virgona had no criminal or Mongols bikie gang associations, unlike Ong and Rider, and there was nothing in Mr Virgona's background to explain why he was targeted and killed.
Ong's barrister said the shooting occurred in the context of motorcycle club activity, but admitted it was "almost certainly a case of mistaken identity".
Rider, now 33, joined the bikie gang when he was 19 or 20.
He told a psychologist he was considering leaving the club, but the Mongols had been supportive of him and his partner while he was in prison and there would be a price to be paid if he left.
A friend said he cautioned Rider against joining the club, but Rider had always wanted to belong somewhere.
He wasn't surprised when Rider was charged with murder.
Ong, 37, had been associated with the Mongols since 2015 but became a patched member two years later.
He has not disavowed the club and rather than downplay his association, Ong and his barrister had talked up his love of motorcycles, Justice Beale said.
"Your association with the Mongols has been disastrous," he said.
"You would do well to settle, once and for all, any association you have with the Mongols or its members."
Mr Virgona's family, including his wife Antonietta and children Luca and Giulia, were in court for the sentence.
Luca was 17 and Giulia was 14 when their father died.
Mrs Virgona said her husband had begun to wind down his business to spend more time with his family before his death.
"I had imagined a long life growing old together," she said.
"I will miss Paul for the rest of my life."
Rider, who pleaded guilty to murder days before a joint trial with Ong was due to begin, was ordered to serve at least 21 years.
Ong, who was convicted at trial, must serve at least 25 years and six months before he is eligible for parole.
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