Finks Outlaw Motorcycle Gang boss BJ Reker targeted in attack
THE victim of a brazen shooting and firebombing attack in Melbourne’s southeast this morning has been identified as a bikie boss, with shocked residents describing their terror after hearing gunshots.
National
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THE victim of a brazen shooting and firebombing attack in Melbourne’s southeast this morning has been identified as Finks Motorcycle Club boss Brent James Reker.
Reker was inside his rented Warrain St property with his wife and two-week-old baby boy when their home was showered with bullets about 5am.
There are gaping bullet holes in the front window of the property.
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Five bullet casings were also found on the street outside the family home, fuelling speculation that the attack might have been a drive-by shooting.
A Holden Commodore belonging to Reker was set alight, with neighbours claiming to have seen smoke billowing from underneath the bonnet.
“The smoke was going everywhere,” neighbour Mary said.
“I saw someone trying to put out the fire because it was coming from the bonnet and they thought it could explode.”
Minutes later, a Mitsubishi Lancer was found burnt out only a few kilometres away.
There have been no reports of injuries.
In 2011, Reker had a case dropped in court after the prosecution’s two key non-police witnesses failed to show at court.
The magistrate awarded Reker $5000 in costs over the case which was police accused the bikie of being involved in a street fight with a member of a rival gang.
In 2012, he was jailed for three years for attempting to extort $2000 or record two teens bashing their friend after they were accused falsely boasting of having links with the gang.
In another incident, a car belonging to a lawyer who represented Reker was firebombed with a molotov cocktail.
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Reker was a former sergeant-at-arms at Rock Machine outlaw bikie group, and then shifted to the Finks.
The Herald Sun has been told there was an incident at a local Frankston hotel recently with a rival bikie gang.
Reker’s mother attempted to enter the crime zone but was refused entry. She then yelled “Brent” from behind police lines as she was concerned for his welfare.
Neighbours saying she looked “terribly distressed” and “emotional”.
Shortly after the shooting, Finks motorcycle gang members were spotted outside the Warrain St property wearing shirts with their insignia.
Neighbours said the Finks sergeant-at-arms and his family have been living in the property for nearly 12 months.
One neighbour, who asked not to be identified, said many in the street fear Reker.
“I try to avoid him and his house at all costs,” the neighbour said. “I don’t even like going past it in the street.”
Detectives from the Echo Taskforce, arson squad and forensics unit spent the morning searching the scene.
Resident Tahleah Sowyer-Thomas said she was “terrified” when told what she initially thought were fireworks turned out to be gunshots.
“It makes me feel horrific,” she said.
“We know he’s in a bikie gang but we wouldn’t have expected that to happen in our street at all,” she said.
Originally published as Finks Outlaw Motorcycle Gang boss BJ Reker targeted in attack