A NOTORIOUS Aussie criminal is believed to have been shot up to ten times in an ambush attack as he sat outside a cafe.
Cops are now on the hunt for two suspected gunmen after Gavin Preston was gunned down while eating at Sweet Lulu’s cafe in Keilor East, Melbourne, on Saturday morning.
Victoria Police Acting Superintendent Mark Hatt confirmed that a second man was also left injured in the shooting and is undergoing surgery in hospital.
“We believe it‘s linked to organised crime and that will form part of our investigation going forward,” Hatt said.
Police are now searching for two men dressed in black who fled the scene in a black Audi SUV, which was found dumped soon after on Blair Court, also in Keilor.
Hatt believes a second vehicle was then used.
“We‘ll do absolutely everything we possibly can to ensure no further acts like this occur,” he said.
“I can reassure the public that we believe that this was a targeted attack.”
The Herald Sun reported that Preston, also known as Gavin "Capable" Preston, was released from jail earlier this year after serving 11 years for the 2012 shooting of drug dealer Adam Khoury in North Melbourne.
During his time in jail, the infamous gangland figure was the victim of a stabbing that nearly left him dead.
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Homicide detectives reportedly remain investigating at the scene of the attack.
Footage circulating on social media shows a heavy police presence outside the cafe, with the area completely cordoned off to the public.
On Facebook, one person claiming to be an eyewitness said they had seen paramedics attempting to revive someone at the scene.
“This is absolutely terrifying. I hope members of the community were not harmed in this incident! Such a busy and popular local cafe too!” one member of a Keilor community group posted.
Preston was closely involved in several extortion attempts after his release from prison, including standing over a business owner who had also been implicated in crime boss Nabil Maghnie’s death.
The criminal was also embroiled in a heated feud with the Notorious Crime Family – a gang founded by George Marrogi, a convicted drug trafficker and murderer who is currently serving a non-parole term of 32 years in a maximum security cell in Barwon Prison.
He was suspected of plots to kill former Bandidos enforcer Toby Mitchell and underworld figure Mick Gatto.
Preston was regarded as one of the most feared and despised members of Melbourne's underworld as police went on high alert in April straight after he was released from jail.
“They’ll be holding the wake in a phone box,” an underworld source told The Age.
In July, Sydney detectives revealed they were struggling to contain the city's escalating gang wars.
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The New South Wales Police then announced a new task force that aimed to target organized criminal activity linked to a spate of attacks during the month.
100 investigators, including 70 detectives and 30 plain-clothed officers were dedicated to Taskforce Magnus which aimed to end the "brazen violence" on Sydney streets.
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