Melbourne is a city on edge after the tragic death of five people when a car driven by 26-year-old Jimmy Gargasoulas ploughed through Bourke Street mall on Jan 20, and rightfully so.
Now an unidentified man has been filmed hurling disturbing threats metres from floral tributes laid to honour victims Matthew Si, 33, Jess Mudie, 22, Thalia Hakin, 10, Zachary Bryant, 3 months, and an unnamed Japanese national.
Footage shows him making a firing gesture with his hands and shouting, “I’m going to shoot them, or hang them. I’m going to shoot them all”.
Have a watch below:
Radio station 3AW spoke to a frightened bystander named Jarod, who told host Neil Mitchell that “people [nearby] were very concerned. It was pretty intimidating.”
VIC Police has since released a statement about the incident, admitting the man was stopped at the scene but managed to flee when officers went to park their patrol car.
“Police on patrol were flagged down on Elizabeth Street, near the corner of Bourke Street, about 7.45am this morning following reports of a man making threats.“Officers spoke to the man briefly from their vehicle and directed him to wait at the scene as they were in moving traffic and unable to park.“When the officers returned to the scene the man had disappeared and a patrol of the area was conducted to no avail.“A witness said the man had fled and possibly boarded a tram on Bourke Street.”
Not… great.
Mitchell says greater action is necessary to make shaken Melburnians feel safe again, particularly at the actual scene of the rampage.
“This is the very scene of the killings. “There’s no doubt he was probably disturbed, rather than really dangerous, but ordinary law-abiding people deserve to be protected from that, particularly in this environment.”
Investigators have urged anyone who may be able to assist in locating the unidentified man to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 ASAP.
Source and photo: 3AW.
