BN- The gunshots were fired in a drive-by attack at the property in Marden Road about 3.30am on Wednesday. Several shots were fired into th...
BN- The gunshots were fired in a drive-by attack at the property in Marden Road about 3.30am on Wednesday.
Several shots were fired into the house and a car at the front of the property had a tennis-ball sized gunshot in a rear passenger window.
The rear window also appeared to have been blasted by shotgun pellets.
The gunman had also deliberately targeted the house security system, directing a shotgun blast at the blue security light under the eave of the house.
It survived, but the wooden eave was peppered by the shotgun blast.
It is believed the bikie occupant of the house left a short time before the attack.
Police said there were two violent clashes between members of the Rock Machine and Rebels bikie gangs in the lead up to this morning's shooting at the Thornlie home occupied by Rock Machine members.
Police have also revealed today that they believe “approaches” were made between the two gangs in a bid to quell the ongoing violence before Rebels president Nick Martin was shot outside his home in March.
“From what we’ve been told there has been approaches made for a bit of a resolution . . . bit of peace in relation to this,” serious and organised crime squad Superintendent Charlie Carver said today.
“From what we’ve been told it’s a no go.”
Supt Carver said police were appealing for information over two separate fights between members of the two gangs which occurred on Sunday and Monday.
The first incident happened outside the Joondalup Arena on Sunday and involved several members of both gangs fighting each other, while the second clash occurred the following day inside the Kingsway Shopping Centre food hall in front of women and children.
Supt Carver urged members of the public who may have witnessed either of the incidents to call police.
He said four shotgun cartridges from a 12 gauge shotgun had been found outside the Thornlie home this morning.
Two of the rounds went through a car and the other two were fired at the home.
He said the home was normally “occupied by members of the Rock Machine” who were not at home at the time of the shooting.
“We are doing everything we possibly can to get on top of this,” Supt Carver said.
“We are not going to tolerate this, members of the community should not tolerate this either.
“The escalation is a concern however we are doing everything possible to try and mitigate that escalation.”
Property raided several weeks ago - neighbours
Neighbours said the property was raided several weeks ago by heavily armed police as part of the crack-down on rival bikie gangs, The Rebels and Rock Machine. Several weapons, which looked like shotguns, were removed at the time.
A beige Ford Fairmont sitting on the front lawn had gunshot damage and there were bullet holes visible in the windows of the house.
Police Forensic officers are at the scene examining the house and surrounds.
One woman who lives around the corner from the property said she heard the sound of "fire crackers'' going off.
"It sounded like boom, boom, boom, boom,'' she said.
Another neighbour who lives in the street, said she heard "at least five shots'' and a car speeding off.
"This is as quiet a street as you can get, it's a shock to all of us,'' she said.
The woman said there had been no trouble in the street up until a few weeks ago when the property was raided by Gang Crime Squad police.
The woman also said she had never seen a bike at the house, only cars.
ABC reported that police believe a shotgun and an automatic weapon were used in the attack.
The drive-by shooting is believed to be the latest incident in an escalating war of violence and retaliation among WA's rival bikie gangs.
Inspector Jeff Ellis said police were called to the street after a neighbour reported hearing the gunshots.
“As a result of those inquiries they have confirmed that there were a number of shots fired,” Insp Ellis said.
“It does not appear at this stage that anybody was injured.”
