Update:
June 18, 2007 07:01pm
POLICE have named the man they are hunting over the fatal shooting
in central Melbourne today.
He is Christopher Wayne Hudson, 29, a Victoria Police spokeswoman
said tonight.
"No further details or a photograph of the suspect are available at
this stage," the spokeswoman said.
But the Nine Network tonight said Hudson was a member of the Hell's
Angels motorcycle gang.
The spokeswoman urged anyone who saw him to contact police or
Crimestoppers.
"Under no circumstances should anyone approach Mr Hudson," she
said.
One man died and two others were seriously injured when a man
opened fire at the corner of William Street and Flinders Lane, as
hundreds of people headed for work in the morning peak.
A 43-year-old solicitor died at the scene, despite the efforts of
paramedics to revive him.
An earlier altercation at a nightclub turned into a violent
confrontation on the corner of Flinders Lane and William Street at
8.15am (AEST) today, when two good Samaritans went to the aid of a
woman being dragged from a taxi by her hair.
Without warning, her attacker pulled out a handgun and, at point
blank range, blasted the two men in the upper body before shooting
the woman.
Paramedics tried in vain for an hour to save the life of the
solicitor.
The second bystander, a man in his 30s, was tonight in a critical
condition with gunshot wounds to the upper body.
Extremely brave
The actions of the solicitor who was shot dead were ones of
"extreme bravery", police said.
"It really strikes at the heart of all investigators to see
somebody who's going about their daily life to be killed in such a
tragic way," Detective Inspector Stephen Clark said.
The Barcode nightclub on King Street was cordoned off as a crime
scene and police were questioning a different man they took from
there this morning.
"We're not sure exactly what his involvement is," Det-Insp Clark
said.
Police were examining a handgun found at a nearby building site
after the shooting, which is a similar type and calibre as the one
the gunman used.
A mobile phone found on Flinders Street was also being
examined.
Police are appealing for the driver of a taxi seen at the
shooting.
"I don't know exactly where the taxi fits in, but there was a taxi
seen in the vicinity," Det-Insp Clark said.
"There appears to have been an altercation between the male and the
female at the taxi," he said.
Earlier assault
About 10 minutes before the shooting, the gunman assaulted a
different woman a block away in King Street's nightclub precinct by
either kicking or punching her in the face.
That woman was also being treated in hospital today and, as with
the other two victims, police were yet to interview her.
"The victims at the moment are all receiving medical treatment.
Once we get an opportunity to speak to them, we'll then do that,"
Det-Insp Clark said.
Police did not know whether the two women knew each other or
whether one was the gunman's girlfriend.
Interstate authorities have been given information about the
suspect, who was last seen on Flinders Lane.
"It's the No.1 investigation at the moment and we've got plenty of
resources dedicated to finding this man," Det-Insp Clark
said.
Video Video: Gunman on the loose | Weapon found
Feedback Nearby?: Send us pictures or tips by email or MMS
Related story More information can be found at the Herald Sun
website
Distraught family
The distressed family of the shot woman expressed their horror and
sorrow for the other victims.
The woman's mother, who rushed to her daughter's hospital bedside,
offered her sympathy to the dead man's family.
"My daughter is up there fighting for her life," she said.
"I just feel so sorry for the other family."
The family would not comment on the woman's links to the gunman. It
is believed she had recently moved to Sydney and worked in
tourism.
A News.com.au reader said the gun was found later at a nearby
contruction site. Police were "fairly confident" it was the weapon
used. A worker at the site said a coat was also found there.
Lockdown
City buildings was in virtual lockdown this morning with thousands
of people being told to remain where they were while the manhunt
was on.
The landmark Rialto Tower was briefly evacuated amid suspicion the
gunman had fled inside, sparking a floor-by-floor search.
Rialto managing director John Apps said the search came up
empty-handed and that the gunman was then rumoured to have been
seen running down St Kilda Road.
The crime scene near Flinders Lane remained closed, but Flinders
Street had reopened to traffic.
The gunman was described as being about 30, about 183cm tall,
wearing black jeans, a denim jacket, and with short brown
hair.
Some Telstra staff who work in the Rialto Building had been been
offered counselling.
The nearby AXA building was also locked down and customers and
staff at a nearby cafe were told to remain inside.
http://www.news.com.au/
I have to say.. Australian police is damn efficient to be able
to identify the suspect in less than 24 hours... Plus their
uniforms look damn cool lol!
