’None of this would have happened’: Security guard sues Sterling Nightclubs after deadly shooting

A nightclub security guard was hailed a hero for rushing to help when a gunman unleashed on a crowd. Now, he’s suing his employer, alleging they knew danger was on its way — but left his friend to die.

A selfless security guard who ushered others to safety despite taking a bullet during the Love Machine nightclub shooting is suing his former employer, alleging more should have been done to prevent the tragedy.

Semisi Tu’itufu, 56, was shot in the shoulder, while his colleague and long-time friend, Aaron Khalid Osmani, 37, and club-goer, Richard Arow, 28, were killed in the drive-by shooting outside the Prahran nightclub in April 2019.

Despite his injuries, the father-of-three stopped terrified revellers from rushing out of the club, telling them to stay inside where it was safe, and tried to help Mr Osmani and Mr Arow, who were both shot in the head.

Semisi Tu’itufu was hailed a hero for his bravery during the Love Machine shooting tragedy — but he alleges his employer could have prevented the deadly event. Picture: Wayne Taylor

The revenge attack was carried out by Jacob Elliott, then aged 18, and the son of notorious crime boss Nabil Maghnie, and his mate Allan Fares, then 21, after Elliott’s younger brother, Ali Maghnie, was earlier kicked out and assaulted by different security guards.

As he was ejected, Maghnie yelled: “You’re all f--ked, you wait, I’m coming back.”

Jacob Elliott was charged with the murder of two people in a drive-by shooting outside Prahran nightclub Love Machine. Picture: Facebook

Mr Tu’itufu has now launched legal action against Love Machine’s owner, Sterling Nightclubs, alleging it was negligent and failed to take the threat seriously by reporting it to police and closing the club.

He told the Herald Sun the guards who kicked Maghnie out were so worried about the threat they hid inside the club, but he and Mr Osmani were left working on the door outside.

Two hours later, Elliott and Fares returned in a stolen Porsche SUV and opened fire into the crowd lining up outside before fleeing.

“They could’ve closed the club down and none of this would have happened, and Aaron would still be here,” Mr Tu’itufu said.

“It got me angry because the (security guards) that caused the issue ran away, it had nothing to do with me and Aaron.”

Aaron Khalid Osmani was killed in the shooting outside Love Machine Nightclub. Picture: Supplied

Victoria Police at the scene of the shooting outside Love Machine nightclub in 2019. Picture: AAP

In the months leading up to the shooting, Mr Tu’itufu in court documents alleges Love Machine was a hotbed for criminal activity and the club had received threats from gangs.

Pleas from security guards to report the threats to police fell on deaf ears and management did not ban gang members from frequenting the venue or take any steps to protect staff, the documents allege.

Mr Tu’itufu, who still carries physical and mental scars from the shooting, said the nightclub’s owner and manager did not call him or bother visiting him while he was recovering in hospital.

“It’s like they didn’t want to know me,” he said.

‘It’s like they didn’t want to know me’: Semisi Tu’itufu is suing the nightclub for negligence. Picture: Wayne Taylor

Maurice Blackburn Lawyers associate, Ben McIlwain, who is representing Mr Tu’itufu, said the club’s management knew who Ali Maghnie was and what his family were capable of.

“Whilst they bunkered down inside the venue fearing his threat of retribution, my client and his colleagues were left outside, vulnerable to the attack,” he said.

“My client suffered terrible physical and psychological trauma as a result of the negligence.”

Mr McIlwain said the Victorian WorkCover Authority had done everything they could to delay Mr Tu’itufu’s compensation claim.

The owners of the club have been accused of failing to take a threat seriously before two people were killed outside the club. Picture: AAP

Earlier this year, Victoria Police presented Mr Tu’itufu with a bravery award for his actions on the night.

Supreme Court Justice Andrew Tinney also paid tribute to the former security guard after he testified at Elliott and Fares’ trial in 2022.

“I was very struck by the great bravery that you showed on that morning and the fact that your concerns seemed to be solely for other people and not for yourself,” he said.

“You did everything you possibly could on that morning to try to help people and to protect people and I think you ought to be commended for that.”

Elliott and Fares were sentenced to life behind bars after they were convicted of Mr Osmani and Mr Arow’s murders, in addition to two counts of attempted murder and one count of intentionally causing serious injury.
Sterling Nightclubs did not respond to a request for comment.

Originally published as ’None of this would have happened’: Security guard sues Sterling Nightclubs after deadly shooting