Police shoot two people at Melbourne nightclub
A MAN dressed as comic-book villain The Joker was shot by police while brandishing a toy gun at a Melbourne swingers party, with a witness saying “he was not a threat to anyone”.
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A MAN dressed as comic-book villain The Joker was shot by police while brandishing a toy gun at a Melbourne swingers party on Saturday, with a witness saying “he was not a threat to anyone”.
The 35-year-old man was shot in the chest and a woman dressed as comic character Harley Quinn was also injured.
It is believed the couple were in one of the King St nightclub’s discreet backrooms at the time of the shooting.
Kim, a partygoer at the Saints and Sinners event, said she believed police were called to the Inflation Nightclub by a jilted lover after the man was seen having an argument with another woman.
“You could see very clearly the man had an argument with another woman earlier in the night, as she’d stormed off.
“It’s a bad case of jealousy, she’s called police out of spite.”
She told the Sunday Herald Sun 30 to 40 police stormed the dimly lit room “where the naughty stuff happens”.
“They said, ‘put your weapon down’, and he went to reach a little plastic thing that was a part of his outfit saying it was nothing.
“Then they opened fire — bang, bang, bang — they didn’t even give him a chance.
“Everyone was starting to scream. It was very loud. We couldn’t believe what was happening. It was like point blank range ... shoot, shoot.
“I was ready to vomit.”
Police were called to the nightclub at 3am after multiple reports of a man with a gun on the premises.
Police said the man pointed what looked like a gun at officers, but some witnesses say he was unarmed.
Police confirmed they were told he had a fake gun as part of his Joker costume.
Superintendent Lisa Hardeman said on Saturday that when the gun had been pointed at officers, they could not confirm it was an imitation.
“Police called on the male, the male took the firearm from his pants and aimed it at police,” she said.
“When a gun is aimed at you … and you ask somebody to drop the gun and that doesn’t happen, (you) need to make a split-second decision to protect yourself.
“Police don’t come to work to shoot people.”
The man was under police guard at the Royal Melbourne Hospital in a stable condition on Saturday night.
King Street is closed off between Collins and Flinders Lane. @theheraldsun pic.twitter.com/nyAUnjZjPZ
— Brianna Travers (@briannatravers) July 7, 2017
The woman was in a stable condition at The Alfred hospital.
The shooting is being investigated by the Armed Crime Squad with oversight from the force’s internal affairs unit, the Professional Standards Command.
But club owner Martha Tsamis cast doubts on the police version of events, saying bar staff had told her the man was unarmed.
A distressed Ms Tsamis told the Sunday Herald Sun the shooting had traumatised her staff.
“It’s a fancy dress party, for God’s sake,’’ she said.
“They are held every weekend. It’s just crazy.’’
Asked whether imitation pistols should have been allowed inside the club, Ms Tsamis said all items were checked by staff, saying horns and belts were also scrutinised.
She said police fired three shots, then deployed a Taser.
Latesha Nickels, who said she worked at the venue, also said the police fired on the unarmed man.
“The police fired, it was a massive mistake on their side,” Ms Nickels posted on Facebook.
“He was having such a good time that he didn’t even notice the floor he was on was evacuated.”
Saints and Sinners — billed as the “world’s raunchiest party where just about anything goes” — attracts largely middle-aged people “with open minds”.
Any witnesses or anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au