Murder charge laid after cafe execution
A 22-year-old man has been charged with murder following the fatal shooting of a Melbourne underworld figure at a crowded cafe.
Gavin Preston was shot dead while eating breakfast at a cafe in Keilor in Melbourne’s northwest on September 9.
A 26-year-old man he was sitting with was seriously injured during the shooting.
Interestingly, the police investigation led them to NSW where a targeted search blitz at three properties was undertaken on Wednesday morning.
The 22-year-old man, who was arrested at a Bradbury home in southwestern Sydney about 6am, is expected to be charged with further offences upon his return to Victoria.
That will likely occur on Thursday morning if his extradition is granted.
He will appear before Campbelltown Local Court on Wednesday.
Detective Superintendent Janet Stevenson said the six-week investigation had been “very challenging”.
“This shooting was an extreme display of violence in a public setting and those involved had complete disregard for innocent members of the community,” she said.
“The fear that this type of offending generates along with the high risk of innocent parties being killed, seriously injured or traumatised is unacceptable and deeply concerns us.
“We will continue to use all our resources to find those responsible at any level and hold them to account.”
Police believe a group of offenders fled the scene in a black Audi that was later found burnt out in Blair Court – a three-minute drive from the cafe where the shooting took place.
It’s there that police believe the group hopped into a black Volkswagen Polo that was also found burnt out in Keilor Downs.
Detectives are continuing to treat this as a targeted attack and the investigation remains ongoing.
Police are keen to speak to anyone who witnessed the incident or the vehicle fires, as well as anyone with information about those responsible for the shooting and the motivation behind it.
This information can also be provided anonymously.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
