Jake King’s South Melbourne tattoo parlour peppered with bullets
FORMER AFL footballer Jake King’s tattoo parlour was peppered with bullets in an early morning attack. King, who owns the shop, arrived this afternoon to help with the clean-up.
Law & Order
Don't miss out on the headlines from Law & Order. Followed categories will be added to My News.
FORMER AFL footballer Jake King’s tattoo parlour was peppered with bullets in an early morning attack.
City of Ink in Clarendon St, South Melbourne, was hit with five bullets just before 2am, Saturday,, likely fired from a handgun.
The bullets pierced the front of the shop — three spread across its banner signage, one below it and one shot hitting the door.
Police were not commenting yesterday on whether they believed it was meant as a warning to King's close ally and underworld figure Toby Mitchell.
King, who owns City of Ink, sat inside the tattoo shop as police scoured the scene.
He then swept up before leaving but did not want to comment about the incident.
Another staffer said he had “no idea’’ who had shot at the tattoo parlour.
Forensic police analysts and detectives left the shop mid afternoon yesterday.
Detectives from the armed crime squad are understood to have attempted to contact Mitchell about any disputes that could have prompted the attack.
The high-profile gangster, however, did not answer calls from the Herald Sun.
a resident who lives opposite the tattoo shop, Ben, said he heard the shots ring out.
“I was asleep. I just heard some loud bangs,’’ he said.
“I didn’t see a car drive off. I looked out the door and didn’t see anything.’’
RELATED: MITCHELL TURNS WALK TO COURT INTO CATWALK
BOTCHED HIT TRIGGERED MITCHELL TO ATTACK
Mitchell, 43, a former Bandidos bikie who was released from prison late last year, has survived two shooting attempts on his life in 2011 and 2013.
No one was charged with either attempt on his life.
Key suspects emerged during the investigation of the first shooting after two gunman ambushed him outside Doherty’s gym wearing balaclavas.
Mitchell was shot with five rounds, which required multiple surgical procedures and ongoing drug treatment.
One of those men suspected of shooting Mitchell has been jailed over other crimes while the other remained a significant problem for authorities, continuing to carry and use weapons.
Another high-profile criminal, jailed mafia figure Rocco Arico, is an enemy of Mitchell’s and is suspected of organising the hit on him.
The animosity between them was alleged to have begun over a drug rip off in which Mitchell left Ralph magazines instead of cash in a bag as payment for a large quantity of cocaine.
The cocaine was alleged to have belonged to Arico — who was not at the exchange.
A return meeting at the inner-city park broke into fighting and gunfire was heard.
Mitchell, considered one of the most connected underworld figures in the state, was among the first people to be slapped with a firearms prohibition order.
Mitchell plans to legally fight the order, which gives police the power to raid and search him without a warrant.