$250,000 is on the line for anyone with information on Carrum Downs bikie-related shooting
A pair of plainclothes police officers remain dedicated to finding those responsible after they were caught in a Carrum Downs crossfire of bikie bullets.
South East
Don't miss out on the headlines from South East . Followed categories will be added to My News.
A shooting between two rival bikie gangs in Melbourne’s south east has demonstrated the threat police officers often face while doing their job.
Despite the danger and very serious personal risk police officers face on duty, armed crime squad Detective Inspector Mark Hatt said “it does not deter us”.
“Incidents like this certainly highlight the danger that police members sometimes face when performing their jobs, but it doesn’t deter us from continuing,” he said.
“These kinds of gangs sometimes possess firearms and are completely reckless in their use — we as police do everything we can to prevent it.”
Insp Hatt said police believe the 2019 shooting in Carrum Downs was to do with escalating conflict between two feuding clubs, the Outlaws and Comanchero, and that it was not unusual for bikie gangs to have access to firearms.
“We have seized a number of firearms from clubs like this one over the last few years,” he said.
Two plainclothes police officers were recently caught in the crossfire between the two clubs, an event which stays with the affected officers to this day.
“The members are very mindful of what happened — it still resonates with them today,” Insp Hatt said.
“But they are very dedicated to what the do, and they’re very keen to target the responsible groups.”
Police are offering a $250,000 reward to anyone with information in relation to the shooting outside the Outlaws bikie clubhouse.
Insp Hatt said he hoped the reward would encourage someone with information to come forward, three years after the event.
“Outlaw bicycle gangs are notoriously difficult to deal with, they always have a reluctance to speak with the police,” he said.
“But over time people change and relationships fold, so we are hoping that someone with information comes forward.”
Insp Hatt has encouraged anyone to come forward with information, either directly to police or through Crimestoppers, reinforcing the anonymity factor.
“Crimestoppers is an organisation that doesn’t record calls, so there are numerous protections that go into making sure the callers remain anonymous,” he said.
In a plea to the public, police are re-releasing CCTV footage of the incident, urging anyone who recognises the vehicles, or who has any information on the night’s events to come forward.
The incident happened about 7.45pm on Friday, September 27, 2019.
A dark SUV was seen driving past the Outlaws’ clubhouse on Titan Drive in Carrums Downs, where several people were standing outside.
Shots were fired into the clubhouse, in what police believe was a targeted attack.
A plainclothes police unit in the area headed to the clubhouse after hearing the shots fired.
While driving past the clubhouse in an unmarked vehicle, two plainclothes detectives serving with the Echo Task Force were shot at multiple times,
Neither were physically injured.
Police say a number of people had gathered outside the clubhouse at the time of the second shooting, both in and out of vehicles.
Police believe the second shooting was by a person “likely associated with the Outlaws”.
The next day, on Saturday, 28 September, 2019, emergency services were called to an incident in a laneway at the western end of Hallam Valley Road in Dandenong South where a dark-coloured Audi Q7 SUV had been set on fire.
Police say CCTV footage shows the two cars turning right on to Hallam Valley Rd from South Gippsland Highway, shortly before the vehicle was set alight.
A silver VW Golf then left the area. Police believe it is likely those who torched the car were in VW.
Investigating units also believe the SUV is likely to be the same car used in the initial shooting from the night before.
The vehicle had been stolen from a western suburbs address earlier in September 2019.
Anyone with information about the vehicles or those responsible for the shootings is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
gemma.scerri@gmail.com
