Harbour Town shooting could have been armed robbery gone wrong, say cops

Police investigating a shooting at a busy Gold Coast shopping centre are now looking at it as a potential armed robbery gone wrong.

POLICE investigating a shooting at Harbour Town are now looking at it as a potential armed robbery gone wrong.

The Gold Coast Bulletin understands detectives are investigating whether the offenders approached a Range Rover at the mall in an attempt to rob the driver who, it is believed, was known to the attackers.

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Emergency services worked to put out the torched car at Biggera Waters.

It is understood the gunman was too slow in getting to the car so instead fired a number of rounds, with three hitting the side of the vehicle. No one was injured.

Initially police thought the gun was either a .22 calibre or an air rifle, but investigations are now leading them towards a “Gel Blaster’’ gun, loaded with metal ball bearings instead of the gel projectiles they are designed to fire.

Police said they had not ruled anything out though.

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Gel Blasters are toy weapons that resemble real guns and fire a gel pellet, used in mock warfare games and similar to paintball guns but with slower velocity. The replica guns are legal in Queensland but illegal in NSW.

After firing the weapon the would-be robber fled to a nearby white Mercedes, believed to have been stolen from a rental company. No arrests have been made and detectives are calling for anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.