Stephen Dank wounded after shots fired at his Ascot Vale home in drive-by attack

UPDATE: STEPHEN Dank says he will “not be silence or bullied” in the wake of the brazen shooting attack on his home overnight.

Police at the crime scene in Ascot Vale where Stephen Dank has been slightly injured in a driveby shooting. Picture: David Crosling

STEPHEN Dank says he will “not be silence or bullied” in the wake of the brazen shooting attack on his home overnight.

Detectives have returned to Dank’s property where they are expected to quiz him further about the brazen shooting.

The former sports scientist said in a statement this afternoon he had “suspicions as to why this happened”.

“I want to thank people for their concern following this mornings shooting at my home,” he said.

“Fortunately, I am okay. I have my suspicions as to why this happened.

“I will say I will not be silenced or bullied and will continue in my attempt to put the truth out there.”

Three detectives tried to get to the front door about 4pm, but could not get past the locked gate.

One of the detectives then spoke to someone on the telephone and the officers walked to the back of the property where they gained access via a roller garage door.

There was no sign of Dank but he is believed to be holed up inside.

It comes after Dank was taken to hospital after a bullet grazed his forehead in an early morning shooting at his home in Melbourne’s northwest.

The controversial ex sports scientist is alleged to have put ‘a lot of people off-side over the years,’ according to a former associate.

One police officer said it was likely to be a “messy probe.”

He said he did not believe it was an attempt on his life but his “murky” existence and background might make it a challenging investigation.

— HOW THE SHOOTING HAPPENED

1. An unknown man approached the Ascot Vale home of controversial sports scientist Stephen Dank shortly before 2.20am on Saturday.

2. Dank was awake and on the lower level of the modern townhouse. His wife was also at home.

3. The gunman walked up to the front gate and sprayed six shots, with a bullet fragment hitting Dank in the head.

4. Dank taken to the Royal Melbourne Hospital for treatment of a broken nose and cut under his eye.

THE SHOTS

3 into the front door.

1 into a sliding-glass door.

1 into an ensuite window.

1 into an upstairs balcony.

Police will be looking into whether it was commissioned by a disgruntled person and that his finances had come under scrutiny.

The source said claims made by former Crows coach Graham Cornes that Dank was shot because of his planned comments as a sporting functin on in Bendigo were “questionable” and “unlikely.”

Dank was due to speak at a South Bendigo Football Netball Club function today, alongside Brownlow Medallist Robert DiPierdomenico.

Secretary of South Bendigo Football Netball Club Rob Robertson said Dank was still set to speak at today’s luncheon.

“Yep, he’s definitely still coming, just going to running a bit late,” Mr Robertson said.

“He’s due to arrive at 1pm.”

But the Herald Sun understands Dank pulled out at the last minute.

South Bendigo sports lunch WITH Stephen Dank still on. To enquire about last minute tickets contact the club pic.twitter.com/IZMMCCAH3V

— South Bendigo Bloods (@SouthBgoFNC) July 23, 2016

Controversial sports scientist Stephen Dank has been shot in the head at his home: https://t.co/RR1DaAnPlv #9News pic.twitter.com/vKfgMxf90K

— Nine News Melbourne (@9NewsMelb) July 23, 2016

Emergency services were called to Dank’s Gillespie Avenue home in Ascot Vale following the shooting at 2.20am.

Dank is alleged to have had outstanding debts relating to his peptide business.

One former associate, convicted drug trafficker and biochemist Shane Charter, said Dank had put a number of people off-side over the years.

“The list would be very long,” Charter said.

“Where do you start? He’s decimated two sporting codes.”

Law enforcement agencies have investigated allegations some of Dank’s former business partners interstate had ties to the Comancheros.

Dank spoke to police at the Royal Melbourne Hospital for more than two hours today about the shooting.

The Herald Sun understands that he gave them a detailed account of what happened.

He sustained a cut to the face and a broken nose as a result of the incident.

Dank, 52, was released from Royal Melbourne Hospital earlier this morning after receiving treatment to the graze above his right eye, has told detectives he has no idea who his shooter could be or why he was targeted.

In initial discussions with investigators, the controversial sports chemist said he hadn’t received any threats.

A broken window at the crime scene in Ascot Vale where Stephen Dank was shot. Picture: David Crosling

Serious Crime Response Team detectives are on scene investigating. Picture: AAP Image/Tracey Nearmy

The broken window at Stephen Dank’s house. Picture: AAP Image/Tracey Nearmy

Police have taped off the street where Stephen Danl was shot. Picture: AAP Image/Tracey Nearmy

The investigation continues as police remain at the crime scene in Ascot Vale. Picture: David Crosling

Ballistics experts suspect just one shooter was involved and that they brazenly took aim at Dank’s property from close-range, standing at his front gate and pelting every window with bullets.

Dank was awake and sitting in the downstairs loungeroom when the shots inundated his house.

Six bullets have pierced the front of the home: two in the front door and one

smashing an upstairs ensuite window.

Bullet fragments left tear marks in the carpet and a hole in the ceiling.

Detectives are hoping CCTV obtained from a nearby home may provide clues.

One other person in the house at the time, believed to be Dank’s wife, was not injured.

Serious Crime Response Team detectives are on scene investigating.

A resident, who wished only to be known as Dean, said he didn’t hear any gunfire despite living just 20m from Dank.

“I was dead asleep and didn’t hear a thing,” he said.

“We have dogs that usually bark at everything and they didn’t even make a noise.”

He said he asked his wife and children and they also didn’t wake to any sounds.

“It’s a big surprise,” he said, describing waking up to a crime scene on their doorstep.

A young couple who live in the complex with their baby described waking to “three loud bangs”.

“It sounded like firecrackers: bang, bang, bang,” the mother, who wished not to be named, said.

“It is very scary. This is such a beautiful community and it’s the last thing you’d expect to wake up to on a Saturday.

“I just hope my neighbours are OK.”

Police have taped off a large area around Dank’s two-storey townhouse complex while detectives conducted line searches in parkland at the front of the property.

An upstairs window is smashed and a dent from a bullet ricocheting of a post on the balcony is visible.

Officers are doorknocking the area to speak to residents who may have heard or seen anything suspicious.

The property looks over a sports oval, home to the Flemington Cricket Club, where young kids arrived this morning for an Auskick tournament.

The shooting comes as Mark “Bomber” Thompson finally apologised over the Essendon drugs saga.

“I am sorry for those things that happened to the players, we’re all sorry for what happened,” Mr Thompson said.

“I didn’t take enough responsibility really in the whole program ... I knew it was wrong ethically, not legally wrong.

“Others have said sorry and I’m sorry too for not doing anything about it. I couldn’t change the result, couldn’t change the fact that what happened has caused so much trauma.”

Anyone with information about the shooting incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or make a confidential report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au