竹炉山房

When I came to office today, collegues told me that there was a gunshot one hour ago in Central Melbourne. Massive police forces had covered that area.

So, every one was shocked. Hanan said this thing never happened before. Well, it seems that the people are becoming more and more aggresive these days.

If this happens in USA, or UK, nobody will feel strange. Moreover thousands of coal miners in Shanxi of China died in one year. Nobody felt guilty. But this is Melbourne, once a peaceful place. It is quite sort of "Zodiac Killer" in LA in 1960s.

This Morning Central Melbourne: One dead, gunman at large after city shooting

Reko Rennie, Carolyn Webb and Jane Holroyd, June 18, 2007 - 8:25PM

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 in a statement 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.

A 43-year-old solicitor died during an act of "extreme bravery" after he was shot while trying to save a woman from Hudson in Melbourne's city centre today, police have said.

Police have yet to identify the man - who was one of three people shot near the corner of William Street and Flinders Lane about 8.20am - as his next of kin are still being contacted.

The solicitor was blasted in the chest at point blank range and died at the scene an hour later, despite the efforts of paramedics to revive him.

"It appears he has gone to the aid of the female ... and was shot," Homicide Squad Detective Inspector Stephen Clark said.

He said the man's attempts to protect the woman, who was also shot, was an act of "extreme bravery".

Detective Inspector Clark described the incident as "tragic".

"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 so our hearts and thoughts go out to the family of the man who died," he said.

"Its a tragic, tragic set of circumstances and it does appear as though he's been in the wrong place at the wrong time, he was trying to give assistance to the female,'' Detective Inspector Clark said.

Massive manhunt

All CBD streets have re-opened to traffic this afternoon as police continue a massive manhunt for Hudson.

After fleeing the scene, Hudson was last seen heading east.

He is described as Caucasian, aged in his late 20s or early 30s with short brown hair, about 180 centimetres tall and wearing dark denim jeans and a dark jacket.

The woman, 24, and a man in his 30s - thought to be another bystander - were taken to Royal Melbourne Hospital with gunshot wounds. They are both in a critical condition in the hospital's intensive care unit.

The woman, a travel agent from Chadstone, is thought to have known the gunman.

Her mother and two brothers rushed to the hospital about 10.30am and were ushered into the emergency ward.
Gunman 'known to police'

Detective Inspector Clark confirmed the alleged gunman was known to police.

He pleaded for any witnesses to the shooting to come forward, particularly a cab driver who is thought to have dropped off the female gunshot victim and the gunman.

Detective Inspector Clark also confirmed police believe an assault at the Barcode nightclub in King Street this morning was linked to the shootings.
"We believe the offender is the same," he said.

The gunshot victims are both in the intensive care unit at Royal Melbourne Hospital in a critical condition.

A third person, a woman in her 20s who was assaulted but not shot, is also at the hospital and is expected to provide a statement to police this afternoon.

The Nine Network tonight said Hudson was a member of the Hell's Angels motorcycle gang who was shot during a violent brawl on Queensland's Gold Coast last year.
Last year, the Southport Magistrates Court was told Hudson had been shot twice - once in the jaw and once in the back - during a brawl at a kickboxing event.
It was claimed the shooting was retribution for defecting from the Finks to the Hell's Angels bikie gang.
The brawl occurred at a kickboxing tournament at the Royal Pines Resort at Carrara in March last year.

Victims under police guard

Police have placed the trio under armed guard, which is expected to continue until Hudson is caught.

The assault victim was badly beaten outside the Barcode nightclub in King Street, police have confirmed.

Sergeant David Tunbridge from Melbourne West Police said officers had not been able to speak to either of the two shooting victims because they were too ill.

Victims shot 'point blank'

Malcolm Bates, a witness, said before the shooting broke out the gunman grabbed a woman by the neck as she sat in a taxi, and tried to get into the vehicle.

"The lady got away and he turned and shot three people basically point blank,'' Mr Bates said. "I was right across the road.''

He told ABC radio the gunman then ran along Flinders Lane towards the city centre.

He said the whole scenario took no longer than "the wink of an eye''.

Detective Inspector Clark said it was possible the dead man was an innocent bystander. There did not appear to be any relationship between the him and the shooter, he said.

City lock-down

All streets surrounding the scene of the shooting have re-opened after a huge operation, led by the Special Operations Group, to find the gunman.

Soon after the shooting, a huge section of the central business district between William, Flinders, Collins and Spencer streets was locked down.
Helicopters hovered over the city as heavily-armed police conducted rooftop searches.

Police urged workers to stay in their offices and keep calm and anyone who had no business in the area to stay away.

Just after 1pm, Flinders and Queensbridge streets were re-opened to traffic in both directions.

Inspector Weir said the last confirmed sighting of the gunman was east of the shooting scene, on Flinders Lane.

One witness, Brian Cotterell, told theage.com.au he went outside after hearing shots to see "three people lying on the ground".

Police ask anyone who saw the shooting or have any relevant information not to call the 000 emergency number but to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

One dead, gunman at large after city shooting. theage.com.au, with AAP