CCTV shows moment of fatal Melbourne cafe shooting
CCTV footage has captured the shocking moment a gangland identity was gunned down at a busy Melbourne cafe where customers were dining in the morning sunshine.
Gavin ‘Capable’ Preston, 50, was killed and a man he was dining with was critically injured when shots were fired outside Sweet Lulus cafe in Keilor Village on Saturday morning.
Security footage shows patrons fleeing and hitting the ground as Preston and the other man, aged in his 20s, are peppered with bullets in the execution-style attack in Melbourne’s north-west.
In the vision, a hooded gunman dressed in black runs from the passenger side door of a black four-wheel-drive and fires several shots from a handgun at Preston, who falls to the ground as smoke lingers in the air.
The other victim appears to see the gunman just before he fires his first shot and begins to run away as other diners are sent scrambling.
The shooter then runs back to the getaway car. It speeds away, with the attack over in less than 20 seconds.
No arrests have been been made amid a major police manhunt.
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Premier Daniel Andrews attempted to quell fears of an escalating Melbourne gang war.
Mr Andrews said diners caught up in the daylight shooting would have been traumatised but expressed confidence the offenders would be brought to justice.
“No one should underestimate the resolve of Victoria Police to fight crime and to keep us safe and to deal with incidents like this,” he said on Sunday.
Asked if Victorians should be concerned about a possible gang war escalation, Mr Andrews said: “I have no advice to suggest that that’s likely.”
Mr Andrews backed police boss Shane Patton’s assessment that Melbourne is a safe place, pointing to more than 250,000 people packing the Melbourne Cricket Ground in recent days for three AFL finals.
Preston was released from Barwon Prison in February after serving 11 years for defensive homicide over the fatal 2012 shooting of 41-year-old Adam Khoury, a Melbourne ice dealer.
He suffered nine stab wounds, several cuts to his face and head and a 15-centimetre laceration down his right jawline during an attack in the maximum security prison’s exercise yard in 2014.
Paramedics on Saturday worked to save Preston but he died at the scene. The younger man was taken to hospital in a critical condition and had emergency surgery for gunshot wounds to his stomach.
The black 4WD was found dumped in nearby Blair Court, along with another car nearby that police believe may also be linked to the shooting.
Preston’s wife and son were pinned down by police as they tried to enter the crime scene to view his body.
Bourke Street driver ‘sick’
It was the second incident to shock Melbourne in as many days after a man drove a car into pedestrians and vehicles in the CBD, killing a 76-year-old man.
The accused driver Zain Khan, 26, has been charged with one count of murder, three counts of attempted murder, three of intentionally causing serious injury and two of conduct endangering life.
Khan’s mother spoke to the Seven Network outside her home, saying her son was “sick” and had battled mental health issues since 2017.
“It’s very sad. He’s sick …. as a mum it’s not easy … it’s hard,” she said.
“I heard, like you know, he’s hurt people, I was shocked at that part.
“If some family who have kids that are sick, they will understand what mental illness is.”
The Melton West man appeared at an after-hours court hearing, where he was remanded in custody to reappear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on January 15.
Khan was driving a white Toyota Aurion that allegedly collided with three pedestrians, a Mazda 4WD and a Hyundai in Bourke Street and Russell Street about 6.20pm on Friday.
The driver of the Hyundai, a 76-year-old man from Brunswick, died at the scene.
The three pedestrians, the driver and passenger of the Mazda – all aged in their 20s and 30s – were taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Shane Patton said the car used in the alleged incident was owned by the driver’s mother.
Police believe the car accelerated after allegedly running down the pedestrians.
“Obviously this will bring up memories and trauma for all those who were involved in the 2017 incident in Bourke Street and our hearts go out to them,” Mr Patton.
“We will have reassurance patrols out in the city today, making sure the public can feel reassured Melbourne is a tremendously safe city.”
Six people died and 27 were injured when James Gargasoulas ploughed into them after driving into Bourke Street Mall in 2017.