Deadly shooting in Melbourne (1 dead), gunman on the run

A man shot dead in central Melbourne today may have been an innocent bystander caught in an ugly confrontation that spilled from a King Street bar into the city’s morning rush hour.

A massive manhunt is under way for a gunman who shot three people at the corner of William Street and Flinders Lane about 8.20am.

The bystander had apparently come to the aid of a woman threatened by the gunman. He died in the street as he was treated by paramedics.

The woman, 24, and a man in his 30s were taken to Royal Melbourne Hospital with gunshot wounds to their upper bodies and were in critical conditions. They were undergoing surgery.

The woman, a travel agent from Chadstone, is thought to have known the gunman.

Her mother and two brothers rushed to the hospital about 10.30am and were ushered into the emergency ward.

Daughter’s life ‘in danger’

The distraught mother said her daughter’s life was in danger.

Police have asked that reporters not publish her name until the gunman is found.

Inspector Glenn Weir told ABC radio a fourth woman was also being treated for « superficial » injuries received when she was assaulted by the gunman, police said. She was not shot.

Police later recovered a handgun and a dark jacket from a nearby building site. And they have appealed for a taxi driver, another motorist and a cyclist who saw the shootings to come forward.

A witness told theage.com.au the shootings followed a confrontation in a King Street bar. Detective Inspector Stephen Clark confirmed there was an incident at a King Street venue minutes before the shooting. Police have cordoned off King Street bar Barcode, declaring it a crime scene.

Victims shot ‘point blank’

Malcolm Bates, a witness, said before the shooting broke out the gunman grabbed a woman by the neck as she sat in a taxi, and tried to get into the vehicle.
« The lady got away and he turned and shot three people basically point blank, » Mr Bates said. « I was right across the road. »

He told ABC radio the gunman then ran along Flinders Lane towards the city centre.

He said the whole scenario took no longer than « the wink of an eye ».

Detective Inspector Clark said it was possible the dead man was an innocent bystander. There did not appear to be any relationship between the him and the shooter, he said

City lock-down

Police, led by the Special Operations Group, locked down a huge section of the central business district between William, Flinders, Collins and Spencer streets and conducted rooftop searches of city buildings.

Inspector Weir said police were combing the area to find the man.

He asked people in the area not to panic.

« There is an extensive search underway to try and find the offender at the moment, » Inspector Weir said.

« There are numerous police attending to the search within the vicinity of the incident and there is a large cordon and containment operation underway as we speak.

« We are just asking the public not to panic and assist police if requested and if you have no business being in the vicinity of Flinders Lane and William Street please keep out of the area. »

Workers urged to stay in offices

Police wearing bullet-proof vests scoured the area and police helicopters hovered overhead.

Inspector Weir said the last confirmed sighting of the gunman was east of the shooting scene, on Flinders Lane.

Police urged workers in the area to stay in their offices.

One witness, Brian Cotterell, told theage.com.au he went outside after hearing shots to see « three people lying on the ground ».

Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.