THE father of an outlaw bikie shot multiple times in Melbourne's north is keeping a bedside vigil by his son's side at the Royal Melbourne Hospital.
Daniel Pegoraro, a 27-year-old father of four and a Hells Angels nominee, was shot in the lower back in the driveway of his parents' house in McCarty Ave, Epping, about 9pm last night.
Police said the gunman and victim know each other, and that they spoke before the shooting took place.
Daniel is in a stable condition at the Royal Melbourne Hospital. Members of the Hells Angels have been seen entering the hospital this morning.
Armed Crime Det Inspector Adrian Dalzotto said there was nothing to indicate the shooting was bikie related other than that the victim was a patched member.
Det Insp Dalzotto declined to name the club that the victim belongs to.
Joe Pegoraro, who owns a custom motorcycle shop, said "he could be better" when asked how his son was coping.
He said his other son, Ben, a patched Red Devil, was OK.
But he said he had not been able to speak to Daniel, who is understood to be undergoing surgery this morning.
"Well at this present time we're just waiting for the doctors to tell us how he is, so we're just sitting beside the bed and just waiting," Mr Pegoraro said.
He said he was reluctant to talk to the media because it all "gets turned around".
Ben, left, and Daniel Pegoraro.
Police said the victim was not cooperating and urged anyone who saw a dark BMW leaving the area to contact police.
The anti-bikie Echo Taskforce is not investigating, suggesting the shooting is related to non-outlaw bikie activity.
Daniel and Ben live at their parents' house in McCarty Ave "on and off", a neighbour said today.
Another neighbour said he saw Daniel outside the house early yesterday evening.
Earlier, Inspector Mark Zervaas confirmed it was a targeted shooting.
Police detectives at the scene of the shooting in Epping.
"It's apparent that there's been three shots fired and our victim's got multiple gunshot wounds in the lower back," he said.
"At this stage we've got investigators at the hospital speaking with the victim and we're endeavouring to take statements from a number of witnesses."
Police have been doorknocking neighbours and conducting ballistics tests at the scene.
They said that the public was not in danger as it was a targeted shooting.
One witness, who declined to be named, said he heard loud gunshot sounds and came out to investigate.
"I heard gunshot sounds and came out from my house to see what was going on. I came around straight away," the man said.
Police investigate the shooting in Epping of an outlaw bikie.
A neighbour said he heard shots being fired and a car speeding away soon afterwards.
The Pegoraro brothers
Daniel was suspected in bikie circles of the shooting of Bandido Toby Mitchell in Melton on March 1.
Police said today there was no known link between last night's shooting and previous shootings or skirmishes with the Bandidos.
Police also have intelligence a gunman stalked one of the brothers at their Epping address.
Ammunition, a bulletproof vest and an explosive device were found at Ben's Epping address in early March.
Also in March, up to six shots were fired at the Pegoraro house in McCarty Ave in a suspected revenge drive-by attack. No one was injured.
Tensions have been running high in Melbourne between the Hells Angels, their affiliated clubs and the Bandidos.
Mitchell was wounded in an ambush by Hells Angels in Melton on March 1, and shot in the arm when his group came under automatic weapon fire.
Detectives, including Armed Crime officers, are investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Anyone with information is being urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
With Aleks Devic and Jess Evans
No comments:
Post a Comment