Police link John Lazzaro’s shooting death to Bandidos after recovering firearm

Police believe a notorious bikie gang could be linked to the brutal execution-style murder of Logan father John Lazzaro in 2012.

Detectives investigating the cold case “brutal execution-style murder” of John Lazzaro have revealed they believe his 2012 shooting death could be linked to the Bandidos bikie gang.

The revelation comes as police question a New South Wales man linked to the murder investigation and detectives locate the gun used to kill Mr Lazzaro.

On April 11, 2012, two masked men stormed Mr Lazzaro’s Rochedale South home and shot him dead in a targeted attack.

John Lazzaro was shot dead in his Rochedale South home in April 2012.

His 19-year-old daughter was home at the time, but was not injured.

Queensland Police Acting Detective Inspector Daniel Cunningham described Mr Lazzaro’s murder as a “brutal execution-style murder” and “nothing short of brutal”.

He revealed that on June 9, 2022 – more than 10 years since Mr Lazzaro’s death – police had received fresh information.

That included forensic analysis of the murder weapon that led them to a New South Wales property where police executed a search warrant and took a 45-year-old man in for questioning.

The man has since been released without charge, however remains a focal point of the investigation.

The 2012 crime scene outside the home of John Lazzaro, who was killed in an execution-style shooting.

Insp Cunningham said the man, along with a number of people, were questioned at the time of Mr Lazzaro’s death, however to this day no one has been charged.

“As you can imagine after 10 years of investigating this matter there has been exhaustive investigations undertaken and we have also received significant information from the public,” Insp Cunningham said.

“What we can confirm is it appears that the death of Mr Lazzaro is the result of the involvement of the Bandidos Outlaw Criminal Motorcycle Gang.”

He said that loyalties and relationships among bikies changed frequently and urged anyone with knowledge of Mr Lazzaro’s death to come forward.

Insp Cunningham said there was no suggestion Mr Lazzaro was a member of the Bandidos at the time of his death.

The revelation Mr Lazzaro’s death is tied to bikie involvement follows extensive police work that earlier this year identified a white ute as a potential vehicle of interest, while weeks ago police located the hand gun used to kill Mr Lazzaro.

“As a result of finding that firearm, this has significantly progressed the investigation,” Insp Cunningham said.

“We are obviously trying to map the use of that firearm at the moment to work out where it has been, and it’s a culmination of those factors that have led us to believe that organised crime was involved in this matter.”

He said police know the gun used to kill Mr Lazzaro had moved through several sets of hands since the day of the shooting, while forensic analysis experts continue to map who had possession of the gun at different periods over the past 10 years.

Police believe there are people within the community who have information that could assist who are yet to come forward.

Insp Cunningham reminded the community there is still a $500,000 reward and potential indemnity for prosecution available for anyone that leads to the conviction of Mr Lazzaro’s murder.