Gangland figure Mohammed Keshtiar killed in drive-by South Yarra shooting
Homicide detectives have set up a major crime scene after a notorious underworld figure was killed after being sprayed by bullets while walking near Chapel St on Friday night.
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GANGLAND figure Mohammed Keshtiar has been murdered in a South Yarra gun ambush.
The man known in the underworld as “Afghan Ali” died in a hail of bullets as his killer pounced in Almeida Cres, just off the bustling Chapel St entertainment precinct.
Keshtiar is regarded as a powerful Middle-eastern organised crime figure who has in the past been linked to jailhouse recruitment for bikie gangs.
He has been involved in the drug trade and widespread crimes of violence.
It is six years since an earlier attempt on the life of Keshtiar.
A gunman waited for him at his Narre Warren home but an associate named Zabi Ezedyar arrived and he was killed instead.
Keshtiar had just been released from prison when the shooter struck outside the Kurrajong Rd property.
He was immediately locked up again for parole breaches, amid fears of more carnage.
MEOC wildman Hasan Topal is believed responsible for that killing.
This time it is not Topal.
He is on the other side of the world in Turkey where he remains a suspect in another wrong-victim slaying of the time, that of Mohamed Yucel in Keysborough.
At a press conference on Saturday morning Detective Superintendent Geri Porter said this was a targeted attack but was limited with the information she could share or the public.
She said the victim was a 53-year-old South Yarra man who was heading back from a local gym with another man.
“There was a man with the victim but he is not forthcoming with information.”
The second man was not injured during the attack.
“This was not a random attack. This was targeted.”
The victim does have associations to organised crime but police did not confirm whether those connections were linked to his murder.
The Keshtiar murder comes at a time of high tension in the MEOC world.
There has been a series of firebombings on shops and the homes of combatants in one outbreak of conflict.
Tobacco shops have been torched in what police say is a separate flare-up.
Last weekend, intruders desecrated the grave of Meshilin Marrogi - the late sister of gang boss George Marrogi - at the Preston General Cemetery.
One theory is that whoever did so wanted to remove the body of Meshilin in a strike against George.
There has also been ructions for some time about cocaine prices.
Comanchero bikies and aligned forces have been trying to control supply by other operators so that prices are forced up.
According to police, Keshtiar was walking along Almeida Crescent about 11.40pm when several shots were fired at him.
He was rushed to hospital with life-threatening injuries but has since died.
Homicide squad detectives have cordoned off the area, near Chapel St and Toorak Rd.
They remained at the crime scene on Saturday morning and were joined by detectives from the Viper taskforce.
The Viper taskforce targets organised crime and gangs
A black dual cab ute was dusted for evidence by a forensic team.
The black ute appeared to have a gunshot in the tray.
There was blood on the sidewalk with a piece of fluorescent, blood-soaked clothing on the ground.
There is also discarded medical equipment from paramedics who attempted to assist Keshitar.
Police were taking identification from anyone leaving the ILK apartments next to the site of the shooting.
It is still unclear whether the victim was staying in those apartments.
A resident of the serviced apartments said they heard loud bangs while watching a movie but did not see anything.
“I heard five or six shots.
“I was just watching a movie and you don’t really think anything of it.
“The when I went out for my walk this morning, there was all this police.”
The resident did not want to be named because she was scared.
“There has been a lot of crime around in the area.”
Another nearby resident said he saw what appeared to be family of the victim crying outside Beverly Rooftop.
He was walking home and saw the scene right after the man was gunned down.
“I was walking up Chapel Street and saw lots of police, but there was no police tape blocking off the path so I thought I could still walk down there (to go home),” he said.
“There was a family there crying.
“One of them, an older woman, was saying that they think he has been shot in the heart.”
The resident said that she was hysterical.
“It was four or five people, an older woman and three or so other women, they seemed like family members,” he said.
“There were a lot of ambulances there by that point too.”
The man said his housemate had heard gunshots.
“It’s so sad this has happened and scary it’s so close to home.”
Witnesses took to social media to express their shock at hearing a round of “continuous” shots on their night out before seeing a car speed off.
One described it as “frightening” and another described hearing “hysterical” screams.
Detectives want to speak to anyone who witnessed anything or has CCTV or dashcam vision of the incident.
Investigators are appealing for anyone who witnessed the shooting or has CCTV or dash-cam footage to come forward.
Police are also probing whether a burnt out car in Rowville is connected to this shooting.
“If there were any people or cars in and around Churchill park drive in Rowville between midnight last night and 5am this morning and you have information to dash am please come forward to police.”
The black ute has since been removed from the scene.
Police said they have “dedicated and committed investigators” on the case.
“We are very concerned with the risks associated with this type of criminal activity.”
“Not only for the people who are targeted but for innocent community members.”
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
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