Man stabbed to death near gym at Carindale in Brisbane’s east
A 23-year-old man injured in a bikie brawl on the Gold Coast last year has been identified as the victim of a fatal stabbing on a suburban street in Brisbane’s east this afternoon. One man is in custody, while four others remain on the run.
Police & Courts
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A 23-year-old bikie associate has been run off the road and stabbed to death near a gym in Brisbane’s east, with one man now in custody and four others on the run.
The victim was Levi Johnston, who The Courier-Mail understands is known to the Comancheros outlaw motorcycle gang but is not a patched member.
He was one of two men stabbed a year ago on the Gold Coast during a fight involving outlaw motorcycle gang associates. It is not known whether the two incidents are connected.
Police say the motive for the attack was not known and that the man in custody was arrested after he was found in bushland just a few hundred metres from the scene of the attack.
At a press conference this afternoon, Detective Superintendent Andrew Massingham said the incident, which had occurred just before 1pm, happened “probably in less than five seconds” and had been caught on CCTV.
He described the footage as “confronting and horrific” and said the men involved “were extremely motivated to hunt this individual down”.
Supt Massingham said the victim entered the car park of the Goodlife gym at the intersection of Creek and Pine Mountain roads at Carindale, driving a white Mercedes.
He said that vehicle was “approached from behind” by a black Audi hatchback.
As the Mercedes tried to exit the car park, it was rammed by a white Nissan Patrol with a silver bull bar, with a group of five men emerging from the vehicles.
“They were five in total, five males,” he said. “They have approached the victim in the driver’s seat.”
Supt Massingham said one of the men used a crowbar to smash the window and attack the man.
He said the victim fled the car via the passenger side and ran across the road, with two men in pursuit.
“One of the males has then confronted him up at the intersection … and has used a knife to stab him multiple times,” Supt Massingham said.
“That male then returned and entered the Nissan Patrol. The remaining male then attempted to start the black Audi but was unable to start that vehicle.”
That man then ran from the scene, turning left into Flame Tree Court.
Police have since found two backpacks in bins in different yards.
Supt Massingham appealed for anyone who was on Creek or Pine Mountain roads, or near the backstreets, to come forward.
“We believe there is a number of people that witnessed this tragic event so people that may have witnessed it or who have dashcam, we ask them to come forward,” he said.
“The motive at this stage is unknown.
“At this stage the motive and the persons involved and their association is not clear.
“These males were extremely motivated to hunt this individual down. This incident was fully captured on CCTV. I have viewed that CCTV and it is confronting and horrific.”
Supt Massingham said it was unclear if there was planning involved or whether there was an incident that escalated.
He said it appeared as though the men had made no effort to hide their identities.
“Four males left in a vehicle and one male left on foot,” he said.
“Where we located the backpack, we attempted to get a track using a police dog. We were unsuccessful in that, so we’d have to look at the possibility of that vehicle returning to pick up the remaining male.
“The footage I’ve seen, I did not see any of them disguised.”
He said the footage was quite graphic and the man was stabbed “multiple times”.
Det Supt Massingham said anyone with footage of the incident, including dashcam footage, should contact police.
He said the incident occurred “probably in less than five seconds” but off-duty medical professionals attempted to help the victim.
“There were also police who arrived on scene who performed CPR but it was quite evident very early on that his injuries were significant,” he said.
One gym patron who was working out inside the building said he only knew of the fatal stabbing after the fact.
The man, who did not wish to be named, said the gym went into lockdown and police informed them a man had been stabbed after a crash in the driveway.
A witness at the gym said there were more than 50 people on the scene and that the facility was being evacuated.
Another person said they were leaving a nearby McDonald’s when he saw someone running away from the gym, being chased by police.
“Police were redirecting traffic,” the witness said.
“Then across the road from the gym, paramedics were attending to someone on the ground who did not look like they were in a good condition.
“There was a huge crowd of people there and everyone had their phones out filming.
“Lots of police and paramedics on scene and a chopper flying too.”
Gym members were kept inside the usually busy gym for about an hour before police took particulars and let most of the patrons leave.
People arriving to work out were turned away.
A neighbour living on the corner of Brigadoon St said she first learnt of the incident when she looked out her window and saw a body lying on the footpath opposite.
“I was shocked, it’s not something I’ve ever seen before,” the resident said.
“This is a family neighbourhood and we don’t ever have things like this happen, I was really shocked to see that.”
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