'A great man': Tributes to security guard shot dead outside nightclub
A nightclub security guard is dead and another is fighting for life after a drive-by shooting outside a Melbourne club, with police determined to track down the offenders.
Shots were fired from a passing SUV, hitting three security guards and a patron outside the popular Prahran nightclub Love Machine about 3.20am on Sunday.
Security guard Aaron Khalid Osmani, 37, was rushed to hospital in a critical condition after the shooting but he later died.
He has been remembered as a “great man” in tributes posted to social media in the wake of his death.
“I used to work with the man who passed, he was a great man R.I.P,” a former colleague wrote, while others offered their condolences to his family and friends.
“My sympathy to the family. RIP Aaron,” another said.
Detective Inspector Andrew Stamper, from the Homicide Squad, said no stone would be left unturned in the bid to find those responsible.
“Three of the people struck were employees, security guards, and one person was a patron innocently waiting to get in,” Inspector Stamper told media at the scene.
“Those gunshot wounds were from a fairly close proximity … so, you know… horrific injuries.”
Detectives and forensic police continue to scour the area for clues and say they are yet to rule out links to organised crime.
Their focus was on bloodstained clothing left lying in the middle of the road alongside bullet casings outside the entrance of the second storey nightclub.
They are investigating whether a black Porsche SUV seen leaving the area is related to the shooting.
That car was later found burnt out in Wollert.
Four people were taken to hospital after the shooting, but police believe others may have been injured and fled the area before emergency services arrived.
A 28-year-old man remains in a critical condition and a 50-year-old man and a 29-year-old man both have non-life threatening injuries.
It’s believed one of the men has facial injuries.
An increased police presence will remain in the area on Sunday and early in the week as investigators view CCTV and speak to business owners and residents.
Seven’s Sunday Sunrise spoke with a security guard at the club who said he had no idea there had been a shooting outside and there was no panic inside the venue, which was still operating.
Police are yet to make any arrests over the incident and are urging anyone with footage to contact them.
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