Drive-by shooting in Beacon Vista, Port Melbourne
UPDATE: AN organised crime gang chasing debts is suspected of being behind a drive-by shooting that terrified the ex-wife and teenage daughter of a celebrity nightclub owner.
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UPDATE: AN organised crime gang chasing debts is suspected of being behind a drive-by shooting that terrified the ex-wife and teenage daughter of a celebrity nightclub owner.
Detectives labelled the shotgun attack on the former marital home of Darren “Razzle” Thornburgh as “cowardly” and “reckless”.
Four shots penetrated the upmarket property in Port Melbourne at 4.45am yesterday, one striking near the bedrooms where Mr Thornburgh’s ex, Denise, and their youngest daughter, aged 13, were sleeping. A vehicle outside was also targeted, all just a week after a shotgun was fired at Mr Thornburgh’s renovated Boutique nightclub in Prahran.
The anti-bikie Echo Taskforce has been notified as police probe whether an organised crime gang was involved in both shootings.
A friend of Ms Thornburgh yesterday said the mother of two had been left shaken.
“She is very popular, the life of the party and also a wonderful mother. She would be devastated by what has happened,” the friend said.
Friends and family members, including the Thornburghs’ 22-year-old eldest daughter, rushed to the home to comfort the shocked pair and to help clean up the broken glass strewn across the property.
Police said Mr Thornburgh was assisting with inquiries. He did not return the Herald Sun’s calls.
Boutique was Melbourne’s party hotspot for the best part of a decade, entertaining every Australian celebrity and international stars such as Paris Hilton, who once danced on tables at the club.
In 2013 One Direction superstar Niall Horan celebrated his 20th birthday in a VIP room at Boutique.
Anyone who is anyone has partied there over the years, including Dannii Minogue, Curtis Stone, Hamish Blake and Andy Lee, and Natalie Imbruglia.
About two years ago the popular Friday night called Flash, Boutique’s big-money crowd-puller, began to lose patronage. Since then various new nights have started at Boutique, but nothing has captured the imagination of the celeb circuit in the way the venue used to.
Inspector David Griffin of Victoria Police said yesterday: “It would appear someone is not happy about something that’s going on and is clearly trying to send a message. It’s outrageous. The person who fired the gunshots into the house would have no idea who was behind the windows. It could have caused death.”
Detective Sergeant Jason Crawford of Port Phillip Crime Investigation Unit said yesterday’s shooting was “reckless” and “cowardly” and had left a girl “traumatised”.
A dark BMW pulled up outside Ms Thornburgh’s Beacon Vista property about 4.45am and fired into the upstairs part of the home, missing the bedrooms by just metres. A further four shots were fired — one into a window by the front door, two into a garage and one into a car parked in the driveway.
There had been no threats or warnings, police said.
The Thornburghs were once nightclub royalty in Melbourne, but five years ago Darren went bankrupt amid reports he owed $100,000 to the Australian Taxation Office and had failed to pay bills.
His personal life also suffered, and he moved out of the family home after splitting from his wife.
But this year he appeared to be rebounding. In June he reportedly sold a commercial property in South Melbourne for $1.78 million and he recently relaunched Boutique.
Ms Thornburgh distanced herself from her ex and had moved on romantically.
Detectives were door knocking in the area yesterday to gather CCTV images.
Anyone with information about the shooting incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or make a confidential report at crimestoppersvic.com.au