Gym owner Nikolaos Solomos has cheated death in a shooting at Burnside
AN ENTERPRISING gym owner who brought out Arnold Schwarzenegger to promote his fast-growing chain has cheated death in a point-blank shooting.
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AN ENTERPRISING gym owner who brought out Hollywood hero Arnold Schwarzenegger to promote his fast-growing chain has cheated death in a point-blank shooting.
Nikolaos Solomos narrowly avoided two shots fired through his car window from a masked gunman outside his Melbourne home.
Police have ruled out mistaken identity but are yet to find a motive for the attack.
Mr Solomos, who founded the Derrimut 24:7 Gym chain five years ago, had just arrived home and was putting his car’s gear in park when the gunman appeared.
“I just saw a shadow to my right-hand side,’’ he said.
“I turned to the right and I just saw a person standing there with a black balaclava and thought the worst.
“It happened in a split second. By the time I got a visual on the person standing with the balaclava it was too late to do anything — the shots were fired.”
Shocked, cut and bruised from shattered glass, the 31-year-old bravely tried to lure the attacker away from the scene amid fears he would turn on his girlfriend who was due home within seconds.
Mr Solomos, who at his Ravenhall outlet two years ago hosted former professional bodybuilder Schwarzenegger in a much-publicised appearance, said he had no enemies through his business.
Known for its large-format clubs, the chain operates in suburban Melbourne and Geelong with publicly-touted plans to expand from eight gyms to 300 by 2030.
“What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger and the passion and drive for our business won’t change,’’ Mr Solomos said.
“If anything it’s going to drive us further into our vision.
“We’re not involved in organised crime, we’re not affiliated with anyone.
“We’re a family-run business and we tend to keep it that way.
“We don’t owe anyone money, there were no threats leading up, there was no warnings.”
Police have released CCTV of the incident, which occurred on May 21 about 5.40pm in Mockridge Ave, Burnside.
They’re also looking for a dark green Subaru Impreza wagon — possibly a 1994-1998 model — with roof racks, five-spoke wheels and stolen numberplates.
It was waiting for the gunman and seen in the area beforehand.
“It’s extremely concerning given there appears to be a degree of planning and organisation that has been undertaken by the offenders,’’ Detective Sgt Warren Chapman said.
“There’s nothing at this point to indicate it was mistaken identity.
“There’s certainly a quite clear intention either to seriously injure or to take our victim’s life.”
Information to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or crimestoppersvic.com.au.