Gavin Preston killers had two days’ notice underworld figure would be at Keilor cafe

Police will investigate whether Gavin Preston walked into an ambush set up by someone close to him, with his killers appearing to have had plenty of notice he would be at the Keilor cafe.

Police will investigate whether Gavin “Capable” Preston was murdered in an ambush orchestrated by someone he knew.

Those who shot dead the feared gangland figure last Saturday appear to have had at least two days’ notice he would be at Sweet Lulu’s in Keilor.

One theory is that Preston — who knew he had dangerous enemies — was there to meet someone he trusted but that contract killers arrived instead, or that they were tipped off about where he would be.

The career criminal looked relaxed in the moments before the gunmen pulled up and opened fire.

Preston and mate Abbas Junior Maghnie were perched at a table next to the street, an unusual position given Preston would have been aware he was under a degree of threat because of his activities since being released from jail in April.

One possibility being floated in crime circles is that Preston or Maghnie were being followed but that is contradicted by getaway cars being put in place two days before the hit.

“There’s no doubt he was set up,” an experienced investigator said.

Police beside the bullet-marked wall at Sweet Lulus cafe. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

The remnants of Preston’s last breakfast. Picture: David Crosling

The shooters reportedly surveilled the cafe from a nearby hotel car park for hours before making their move when Preston arrived and Maghnie arrived and were seated.

A major element of the inquiry is expected to be finding out who stole the cars used in the killing and whose hands they had been through before last Saturday.

As many as four were driven by the hit team.

A black Audi Q5 used to carry out the shooting remained intact Blair Court, Keilor, after a failed attempt to incinerate it by the killers.

A Volkswagen they had transferred to was then located 5km away in Cadiz Place, Keilor Downs.

Locals said they believed the men had then driven away in a Camry which they first spotted parked in nearby Madras the day before the Preston killing.

A suspicious Holden Cruze was also spotted by neighbours in Madras Walk on the Thursday of that week.

The seizure of the Audi and the Volkswagen opens up the potential for forensic scientists to locate significant clues and evidence.

It is normal in such crimes for getaway vehicles to be torched to destroy any DNA or fingerprints.

The shooters failed to properly torch their getaway car. Picture: David Crosling

Going through Preston’s phone, found at the scene, will be a key element of the inquiry to see who he was communicating with prior to his death.

But it is unclear whether they will be able to access all of what it contains.

Underworld figures use encrypted apps for much of their communications, some of which automatically delete messages after a short period of time.

The police inquiry is potentially long and complex.

Preston had made many enemies in a vast criminal career involving murder, non-fatal shootings, armed robbery, bashings and extortion.

A veteran armed bank robber with ties to Melbourne underworld identities said the killers were likely to be people he “underestimated”.

Was Preston set up by someone he knew? Picture: Hamish Blair

Russell Manser, who served more than two decades behind bars for robbing banks across three states and territories, spoke publicly about how Preston “had maybe a thousand enemies”.

“I think it was a highly isolated incident, I think the guy (Preston) had maybe a thousand enemies, he’s been accused of shooting all sorts of people in the past and being of a violent nature,” he said on his public TikTok account.

“That’s the problem, you live by the sword, you die by the sword.”

Manser, who grew up in the western suburbs of Sydney but remains close friends with Toby Mitchell, said he suspected the hit job was executed by someone unexpected.

“The person or people that normally do these things are the one that that person underestimated,” he said.

“That’s just how it goes down. He had many, many enemies, including enemies within prison. He was stabbed while he was in prison and maybe that flowed onto the street, who knows.”