Fears of tit-for-tat war as Comanchero boss left for dead in Narre Warren shooting

A BAILED senior bikie has been shot and left for dead, sparking fears of a tit-for-tat outlaw motorcycle gang war.

A man is in hospital in a critical condtion after being found with a gunshot wound to his stomach on the footpath of Berwick Springs Promenade Narre Warren. Picture: Nicole Garmston

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A BAILED senior bikie has been shot and left for dead, sparking fears of a tit-for-tat outlaw motorcycle gang war.

Robert Morando was ­ambushed on his regular evening walk, a few hundred metres from his Narre ­Warren South home.

The high-ranking Comanchero, a powerful bodybuilder, was blasted in the torso and left bleeding and screaming for help on the nature strip of Berwick Springs Promenade on Wednesday night.

Specialist anti-bikie investigators from the Victoria Police Echo Taskforce are now working on the case.

It is the second shooting in a month in Narre Warren that police suspect is linked to bikie gangs.

Friction over control of security contracts is seen as one ­potential cause.

Former kickboxer Clay Auimatagi, 44, was shot several times in the leg outside his Skamma Gym in Vesper Drive, Narre Warren last month.

Mr Morando is a high-ranking Comanchero.

The attack on Mr Auimatagi, a security industry figure, was suspected of being connected to a brawl involving a Comanchero and one of his associates who fought with bouncers outside a CBD nightclub.

Gang member Samson Bazi and underworld figure Nabil Maghnie were involved in the fight after being refused entry to the venue.

Mr Auimatagi, who is not believed to have been at the nightclub, was for some time a close associate of former ­Comancheros president Mick Murray, who runs Nitro Gym in Hallam, near Narre Warren.

Mr Morando, the former owner of security company ­Ultimate Crown Control, is on bail on charges of perverting the course of justice.

That related to his arrest last year with Mr Murray and another man over allegations they pressured a third man to accept the blame for explosives found by police in a raid the previous year.

It was alleged at a subsequent court hearing that Mr Morando had threatened to cut open the victim.

The victim was found on this footpath along Berwick Springs Promenade Narre Warren. Picture: Nicole Garmston

He was also charged with threatening to inflict serious injury and possessing steroids and explosives.

Mr Murray has promised to stand down as Comanchero commander and is banned by court order from associating with members of the gang.

On Wednesday night, Mr Morando was flown to The ­Alfred hospital, where his condition has improved from critical to serious.

Detectives interviewed witnesses and took away CCTV footage from home security systems as they searched for any clues on Thursday.

The southeastern suburbs around Narre Warren and Hallam are ­regarded as a Com­ancheros stronghold.

Gang members and associates have been the subject of many police operations as the force tries to curtail its activities.

Anyone with information can contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or go online to www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.