Police are continuing a search for suspects after the fatal shooting of underworld figure Gavin Preston. Source: rawpixel
Police are still searching for two men wanted over the fatal shooting of Gavin Preston, a Melbourne underworld figure, at a café in the city’s north-west on the weekend.
50-year-old Preston was shot and killed while sitting at the Keilor café on Saturday morning.
CCTV footage captured a man dressed all in black running across the road to the café and opening fire as people ran and took cover.
26-year-old Abbas “AJ” Maghnie, the son of a late crime boss, sat across the table from Preston, and was severely injured in the attack. He was taken to hospital in a critical condition.
The offenders fled the scene in a black Audi which was later found less than a kilometre away on Blair Court, according to law enforcement.
Homicide Squad detectors think the men got into a Volkswagen Polo, which was also found, dumped in Cadiz Place.
Gavin “Capable” Preston was a notorious underworld figure. He was the prime suspect in the near-fatal shooting of former bikie boss Toby Mitchell and was accused of plotting to kill Mick Gatto. He was also jailed for killing a drug dealer and injuring another.
Preston also survived a stabbing while in prison, from which he was released back in April.
Police believe the shooting was a targeted attack, linked to organised crime.
Many people were at the café at the time of the shooting and are still in shock.
“It’s just crazy. We moved to the area because it’s safe, and we walk down here every day, take the kids to the park,” said one local.
