OFF THE WIRE
Video: http://media.smh.com.au/news/national-news/motives-and-paybacks-is-this-a-bikie-war-2805144.html
Police say the shooting of a senior member of an outlaw motorcycle gxxg has more to do with his links to underworld crime than igniting a war between rival bikies.
But police say they will speak to members of the Bandidos, urging them not to seek retribution for yesterday’s shooting of Toby Mitchell in Brunswick.
They have also revealed they are hunting not one, but two gunmen in relation to the incident. Police have also confirmed a stray bullet hit a car with a man and three children inside.
Mitchell, 37, a Bandidos sergeant-at-arms and former champion heavyweight kickboxer, suffered up to six gunshot wounds when he was fired on in Barkly Square shopping centre car park about 4.30pm yesterday.
A four-wheel-drive used in the shooting was last night found burnt-out in Parkville.
Police are investigating whether the shooting outside Doherty’s Gym on Weston Street was payback for the recent bashing of a man with links to the camp of slain underworld killer Carl Williams.
In 2003, Mitchell was interviewed by detectives from the Purana Taskforce over the death of Mark Mallia, although he was not charged. Williams pleaded guilty to Mallia’s murder in 2007.
Mitchell has also been linked romantically with Danielle McGuire, the former partner of Tony Mokbel, who is in jail on drugs charges.
Mitchell was taken to the Royal Melbourne Hospital for emergency surgery and is in a serious but stable condition. He has spoken with police, but was not co-operative.
Detective Superintendent Brett Guerin said police planned to urge the Bandidos not to seek payback over the shooting, amid fears of more bloodshed on Melbourne’s streets.
‘‘Our strategy today will be to engage with members of the Bandidos and just to make sure they understand this is not the OK Corral and the wild west,’’ he told 774 ABC radio.
‘‘It’s our job to enforce the law and it’s our job to identify those responsible for this and bring them to justice, not theirs.’’
Detective Superintendent Guerin said police had spoken with Bandidos members last night, and found them co-operative, although Mitchell had not been.
‘‘He’s not been forthcoming at all, but that’s not unexpected. Criminals do not normally help the police,’’ he said.
Detective Superintendent Guerin said there was nothing to suggest the shooting had anything to do with bad blood between the Bandidos and rival motorcycle gxxgs.
‘‘There are two pieces to the puzzle here. There’s Mr Mitchell’s involvement with an outlaw motorcycle gxxg and there’s his involvement with people involved in organised crime,’’ he said.
‘‘Our intelligence doesn’t lead us to believe there is anything going on within the Bandidos Motorcycle Club.
‘‘There’s no factional rivalry or anything like that. Nor does it appear to be any acrimony between the Bandidos and any other motorcycle gxxg.
‘‘We believe at this early stage - and I must stress it’s early doors with this particular inquiry - it’s more involved with Mr Mitchell’s personal involvement with men - predominantly men - involved in various aspects of organised crime.’’
After the shooting, heavily-armed police cordoned off the area where several bloodied towels lay. Members of the Special Operations Group also attended the scene.
The gunmen drove off in a charcoal-grey 2011 Ford Territory with stolen plates, WIA 651. That vehicle was set ablaze in Parkville Avenue, Parkville, about 10.20pm.
Detective Superintendent Guerin said it was too early to say if the shooting was an organised underworld hit, but said the way the attack was carried out suggested otherwise.
‘‘In terms of a professional hit, if the intention was to murder Mr Mitchell it was spectacularly unsuccessful,’’ he said.
‘‘He’s seriously injured of course ... but this was not of a nature where people lie in wait in the darkness of night in a quiet position, sneaking up and popping one in someone’s head to make sure.
‘‘This was a ... crime in action, I guess. Two men running after the victim in broad daylight, letting shots go indiscriminately.’’
http://www.smh.com.au/victoria/this-is-not-the-ok-corral-cops-plead-with-bikies-not-to-retaliate-as-manhunt-widens-20111129-1o3u5.html
Mitchell has also been linked romantically with Danielle McGuire, the former partner of Tony Mokbel, who is in jail on drugs charges.
Mitchell was taken to the Royal Melbourne Hospital for emergency surgery and is in a serious but stable condition. He has spoken with police, but was not co-operative.
Detective Superintendent Brett Guerin said police planned to urge the Bandidos not to seek payback over the shooting, amid fears of more bloodshed on Melbourne’s streets.
‘‘Our strategy today will be to engage with members of the Bandidos and just to make sure they understand this is not the OK Corral and the wild west,’’ he told 774 ABC radio.
‘‘It’s our job to enforce the law and it’s our job to identify those responsible for this and bring them to justice, not theirs.’’
Detective Superintendent Guerin said police had spoken with Bandidos members last night, and found them co-operative, although Mitchell had not been.
‘‘He’s not been forthcoming at all, but that’s not unexpected. Criminals do not normally help the police,’’ he said.
Detective Superintendent Guerin said there was nothing to suggest the shooting had anything to do with bad blood between the Bandidos and rival motorcycle gxxgs.
‘‘There are two pieces to the puzzle here. There’s Mr Mitchell’s involvement with an outlaw motorcycle gxxg and there’s his involvement with people involved in organised crime,’’ he said.
‘‘Our intelligence doesn’t lead us to believe there is anything going on within the Bandidos Motorcycle Club.
‘‘There’s no factional rivalry or anything like that. Nor does it appear to be any acrimony between the Bandidos and any other motorcycle gxxg.
‘‘We believe at this early stage - and I must stress it’s early doors with this particular inquiry - it’s more involved with Mr Mitchell’s personal involvement with men - predominantly men - involved in various aspects of organised crime.’’
After the shooting, heavily-armed police cordoned off the area where several bloodied towels lay. Members of the Special Operations Group also attended the scene.
The gunmen drove off in a charcoal-grey 2011 Ford Territory with stolen plates, WIA 651. That vehicle was set ablaze in Parkville Avenue, Parkville, about 10.20pm.
Detective Superintendent Guerin said it was too early to say if the shooting was an organised underworld hit, but said the way the attack was carried out suggested otherwise.
‘‘In terms of a professional hit, if the intention was to murder Mr Mitchell it was spectacularly unsuccessful,’’ he said.
‘‘He’s seriously injured of course ... but this was not of a nature where people lie in wait in the darkness of night in a quiet position, sneaking up and popping one in someone’s head to make sure.
‘‘This was a ... crime in action, I guess. Two men running after the victim in broad daylight, letting shots go indiscriminately.’’
http://www.smh.com.au/victoria/this-is-not-the-ok-corral-cops-plead-with-bikies-not-to-retaliate-as-manhunt-widens-20111129-1o3u5.html
