OFF THE WIRE
goldcoast.com.au
Anne-Louise Brown
THE woman shot through the leg at a luxury Broadbeach Waters house is believed to be former Penthouse pet and Miss Universe finalist, Emma Gibbs.
A close friend of Ms Gibbs' family confirmed to the Bulletin, the 26-year-old model was recovering in Gold Coast Hospital from a gun shot wound to the upper thigh.
Ms Gibbs, who is a former Queensland aerobics champion was a finalist in the 2007 Miss Universe competition before going on to be named Penthouse Pet of the Year in 2009.
She now tours around Australia performing stripteases and pole dancing at nightclubs and adult functions.
Although based in Sydney, Miss Gibbs visits the Gold Coast regularly and according to the family source was on the Coast to celebrate Christmas with her mother, who is a local.
Ms Gibbs was shot at a canal-front home in Namatjira Court on Monday, although police will not confirm Ms Gibbs as the victim.
The friend told the Bulletin Ms Gibbs had 'become involved in a bad crowd', adding to speculation the shooting may have been linked to an outlaw bikie gang.
Bikies and strippers were believed to be socialising at the house when the shooting occurred.
Gold Coast Regional Crime Co-ordinator Detective Superintendent Dave Hutchinson said police had not established a bikie connection at the house but did confirm members from Taskforce Hydra, the police unit established to investigate bikie crime, had attended the scene on Monday.
Det Supt Hutchinson would not say if the home owner or occupants were known to police or if drugs were found in the house.
On the day of the shooting, neighbour Sue Reid said the house had been raided in the past.
Police are also looking for a possible second victim, a man, who left the Namatjira Court house before police arrived.
However, police said the nature of the man's injury was unknown.
Police divers have searched nearby canals for a weapon but have found nothing.
The shooting was the fourth on the Gold Coast this month.
