With a gunshot wound to her chest, Ivona Jovanovic was left bloody — and slowly dying — inside a Nerang home, as her friends ran from the scene. Just hours earlier, she was relaxing at one of the city’s most iconic beaches.
WITH a gunshot wound to her chest, Ivona Jovanovic was left bloody — and slowly dying — inside a Nerang home, as her friends and former boyfriend allegedly ran from the scene.
Hours beforehand the 27-year-old had posted a picture of herself with her dog Meatball, on Burleigh Hill, looking like she was loving life.
By 8.30pm Ms Jovanovic was lying in a pool of blood, her friends allegedly running, leaving her behind. The mother of her former boyfriend, Christos Panagakos, was the one who was forced to call emergency services.
They rushed to the Renfrew Driver, Nerang home, before taking her to the Gold Coast University Hospital, where she died.
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Panagakos, who has alleged links to the Mongols bikie gang, was arrested when he returned to the home about 1am yesterday.
He spent most of yesterday being questioned by detectives.
It’s understood Panagakos, who was out on parole for unrelated offences, will remain in police custody after his parole was revoked and a return to prison warrant was issued yesterday.
No one had been charged as the Bulletin went to print last night.
The police were still trying to find the handgun used in the shooting, along with trying to track down the other people in the home at the time. It is believed five were present.
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Detective acting Superintendent Brendan Smith said it was “disgraceful” her friends ran from the home.
“I’m sure if one of them had been injured in that manner they would expect as much assistance as everyone there,” he said.
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“Whilst they called the ambulance, there’s a lot of first-aid that could have been rendered at the time that may or may not have made a difference — we’ll never know.
“Her family have lost a loved one and we need to help get some answers for them. It’s very important we get to the bottom of (this) as quickly as possible.”
Police hadn’t ruled out the possibility the shooting may have been an accident, he said.
While some of those alleged to be at the home had links to bikie gangs, there was no suggestion the incident itself was bikie-related, Supt Smith said.
“Some of these people aren’t actual members of any outlaw motorcycle gang but they are certainly people who hang around the fringes of those types of people,” Supt Smith said.
“That’s obviously a line of inquiry but we certainly don’t believe there’s any suggestion it’s bikie-related.”
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Neighbour Don Luttrell said he heard a car revving up as it sped away from the home.
“I just heard the car reversing back up the driveway,” he said.
“The driveway is on a 20 per cent slope and on cobblestones so tyres are always slipping and sliding.
“They were revving it up, but that’s a common thing down at that house.
“I heard that noise. Then he hit the steps on the left hand side of the driveway and that’s the only commotion I heard.”
Tragically Ms Jovanovic had captioned her Facebook page with the quote “sometimes bad things happen to good people”.
Her sister Annette Jovanovic setup a GoFundMe yesterday saying: “Fundraising towards the tragic death of my beautiful sister, she was fatally shot in the chest with not a chance to survive”.
There was an outpouring of grief over Ms Jovanovic’s death, with friends taking to social media to remember her “beautiful soul”.
Ashley Blues said “my heart is broken and I have never felt such pain. If God only knew how much I needed you here. I will forever cherish every memory we have, even a lifetime together would never be enough. 10 years feels like 10 seconds now that you are gone.”
April Laura said: “What a great loss to the world, a beautiful soul inside and out. You will be deeply missed … my heart is so heavy today.”
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She was remembered by Brooklyn Jade as an “amazing woman”.
“Ivona I never thought last week would be the last time I’d ever speak to you. Any life lost is a tragedy, but the world has lost an amazing woman in such a terrible way. You will be missed by so many.”
Gold Coaster Jimmy Seoud, who co-owns Toybox Showgirls in Surfers Paradise, said only a few weeks ago Ms Jovanovic had been in good spirits at his 50th birthday at the venue as a guest of one of his female friends.
Mr Seoud, who said he didn’t know her well but had plenty of mutual friends, added: “Most people I’ve spoken to are still in shock and disbelief.
“Everybody said she was a beautiful soul and friendly girl that didn’t deserve this. Everyone seemed to know her at my birthday party. She looked like she was having a good time, a very friendly person.
“She was talking to everyone.”
Just last Saturday night she was out with girlfriends at Nineteen at the Star.
Mr Seoud added: “A mate said her saw her last Saturday night, she came up, said hello, seemed very happy.”
“She seemed to know everyone, a very popular girl.”
Police are appealing for anyone who saw anything suspicious on Renfrew Drive and Kincaid Drive or who has CCTV or dashcam vision from the area to contact investigators.
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