Biker shot to death

Alex de Vos
A fatal drive-by shooting outside a Geelong bikie headquarters on Wednesday night was a “targeted” attack, police revealed yesterday.
Homicide Squad Detective Inspector Steve Clark said police were still investigating the shooting death of 51-year-old Ross Brand, of Torquay.
Another man, aged 34, suffered gunshot wounds in the attack outside the Breakwater headquarters of the outlaw Bandidos gang.
Det Insp Clark confirmed Mr Brand was part of the Bandidos club but refused to speculate whether the attack was connected to his membership.
“It’s still too early to say,” Det Insp Clark said.
“We’re investigating all the possibilities but it does appear to be a targeted shooting.”
Det Insp Clark refused to comment on whether the attack was part of an ongoing turf war between the Bandidos and rival bikie gang the Rebels, who have a headquarters in northern Geelong.
“We’re keeping an open mind and will be interviewing a whole range of people to help us with the investigation,” he said.
Det Insp said Mr Brand had a criminal history including convictions for violence and possessions of firearms and weapons.
The two victims were among a group of four men leaving the empty clubhouse on Wednesday night when a vehicle pulled up outside.
“A number of shots were fired from the vehicle,” Det Insp Clark said.
“There was a white twin-cab ute that was seen to be driving away shortly after the shooting.
“We don’t know the model and we’re appealing to the public to come forward with information.”
Det Insp Clark said police were examining footage from a surveillance camera outside the clubhouse.
He could not confirm whether the camera filmed the shooting.
“We do have some footage and we’re going through that at the moment,” Det Insp Clark said.
He refused to predict whether the incident would spark a revenge attack or lead to further shootings.
“I would hope members of the public would take some solace in the fact that the shooting occurred in a factory area and it seemed to be a targeted rather than a random shooting,” he said.
Det Insp Clark could not confirm whether the firearms used in the attack were the same weapons stolen from a house at Grovedale earlier this week.
“It’s clear a firearm was used to commission this murder but any information relating to any firearm will be something we’ll chase up during the course of the week.”