Gavin Preston at war over stolen trucks with a feared underworld gang before his murder

Gavin “Capable” Preston had allegedly stolen trucks from drug kingpin George Marrogi’s crew before being gunned down in a Keilor cafe. But many others may have wanted him dead.

Gangland figure Gavin Preston had been at war over stolen trucks with a feared Melbourne underworld gang before his murder.

The Herald Sun has been told by multiple sources there had been severe friction between Preston and members of George Marrogi’s crew over the rigs.

Marrogi’s Notorious Crime Family gang still has interests in the transport industry and Preston had allegedly taken stolen trucks from their yard.

There was some severe angst in the period before Saturday morning’s deadly ambush, most likely carried out by a contracted hit crew.

Abbas Maghnie Junior, the son of Preston’s old running mate Nabil Maghnie, was wounded and remains in hospital.

Gavin Preston had many enemies. Picture: Hamish Blair

Executed underworld figure Gavin Preston. Picture: Supplied

A shooter takes aim at Preston at the Keilor cafe. Picture: Supplied

Abbas Maghnie Junior sees the shooter and runs from the table. Picture: Supplied

Abbas Junior Maghnie remains in hospital after being wounded in the ambush. Picture: Supplied

Police will be keen to work out how the killers knew the 50-year-old Preston’s precise location.

One possibility was that he and Maghnie were at the cafe to meet someone when the shooters arrived.

Preston, from Taylors Hill, seems relaxed in video of the moments before he is shot dead and is seated exposed to the street, indicating he felt under no threat.

He had no time to make a move as events unfolded beside the Old Calder Highway.

“By the time he saw them, it would have been too late. He would have known, `this is it’,” a former Preston associate said.

Maghnie – who had already witnessed one shooting murder – moved much more quickly as the masked shooter leapt from a black Audi Q5 and made his move with ruthless efficiency.

The 26-year-old was present and wounded the night his father died in a standover episode at a house at Epping in January, 2020.

Despite carrying out their grim task within seconds, the killers may have later created major problems for themselves.

Police comb the scene at the Sweet Lulu cafe in Keilor. Picture: Tony Gough

Witnesses said one of them set fire to his own hand as he tried to incinerate the Audi after dumping it in Blair Court.

In the end, the car was not destroyed, leaving them exposed to the risk of providing the homicide squad with crucial forensic evidence.

Police believe they also used a black Volkswagen Polo, which was later found on Cadiz Place.

There had been concern about Preston’s activities in recent months.

The Herald Sun has been told one veteran underworld figure was approached by police and warned about Preston.

Preston was released from maximum security Barwon Prison in Autumn of this year after doing a long stretch over the 2012 murder of drug dealer Adam Khoury.

He went straight back to standover tactics, using his fearsome reputation to extract money from victims.

But, as one well-connected source said, Preston was horning in on a crowded market.

“I think everyone’s got their system going. There’s no room for any new players,” the source said.

A younger Gavin Preston in prison. Picture: Supplied

Notorious gangster George Marrogi. Picture: Supplied

Another gangland player said Preston had been busy “traumatising people” since he walked from Barwon.

He had been stabbed in a brutal attack at the maximum security jail in 2015 and had known for years that he was under threat, the former Preston associate said.

“He knew he was a marked man,” that source said.

There had long been rancour between Preston and the Marrogi faction.

In 2016, Nabil Maghnie was shot as he sat in a car in a near-fatal ambush.

A former Preston associate said that during that period that Maghnie started asking around town about where he could find Marrogi’s younger brother, Jesse.

Preston is said to have recently assaulted Jesse.

The issue is further complicated by Maghnie’s daughter Sabrine being the girlfriend of Jesse Marrogi.

The Marrogis were rocked in July when intruders broke into the Preston Cemetery crypt of George and Jesse’s sister Meshilin in an apparent attempt to steal her remains.

No arrests have been made over that incident.

Pharmacy manager Amani Awad said staff from her nearby chemist rushed to try and help Preston after the shooting.

Unfinished drinks and belongings letft on the table after the shooting. Picture: David Crosling

Police at the Sweet Lulu’s Cafe. Picture: Tony Gough

“My son came quickly and he saw him lying and got a defibrillator from the pharmacy and gauze to try to help,’’ she told 7 News.

“He was still alive but shortly after, he wasn’t moving.”

Sweet Lulu’s cafe owner Lyndall Blackmore took to Facebook to share gratitude for concern customers had shown for staff safety.

“We are so proud of our team and how they conducted themselves in such a traumatic situation.’’

It has been a period of turbulence in Melbourne underworld circles.

In June last year, former Mongol bikie Sam “The Punisher” Abdulrahim survived being peppered with bullets at his cousin’s funeral at Fawkner Cemetery.

In January, former NCF figure Douglas Mikhaeel was shot as he sat in a car waiting for boom gates to open at Deer Park.

Last month, influential crime figure Mohammed “Afghan Ali” Keshtiar was shot dead in the street at South Yarra.

There has also been growing tension related to the illicit tobacco trade with more than a dozen smoke shops set alight in brawling over market share.

Firebombing attacks have also been directed at businesses and homes of their operators in unrelated warfare.

Anyone who witnessed the Preston shooting or who has dashcam footage can call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit the website www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.

Originally published as Gavin Preston at war over stolen trucks with a feared underworld gang before his murder