AN ongoing turf war between the Hells Angels and Comanchero bikie gangs is behind Monday night's drive-by shooting in Sydney's eastern suburbs, which killed one Hells Angel and wounded another.
Detectives haven't named the gangs publicly but have said they will act as peacemakers between the groups in a bid to stop any revenge shootings.
"We are hopeful we can engage with personnel from both gangs to try to get them to evade any sort of retribution," Detective Inspector Dave Laidlaw, of the homicide squad, said.
"At this stage inquiries reveal that these persons have been engaged or associated with the OMCG (outlaw motorcycle gangs) around the area.
"We believe it is a dispute between two gangs, rival gangs. The motive could be a turf war or it could be a personal fight."
The victim, Tyrone Lee Slemnick, a known Hells Angel, is one of many moving into the Eastlakes area as the gang pushes its way into the eastern suburbs - traditionally a Comanchero strong hold.
Friends said Slemnick leaves behind a two-year-old daughter.
A woman at the scene, whose daughter was close to the slain bikie member, said the family was in despair when word of his murder spread.
"My daughter is not coping with the emotional scene she witnessed when called late (Monday) night," she said.
Trouble between the two groups has been escalating ever since Hells Angels associate Anthony Zervos was bashed to death when the two gangs engaged in a huge brawl at Sydney Airport in 2009.
Tensions rose further in February last year when the Hells Angels announced on their website that they had opened a Bondi Beach chapter, a move which sparked a number of incidents, including a car bombing.
Senior police said it's common knowledge the Hells Angels are recruiting heavily and attempting to expand all over Sydney, not just in the east.
Locals in Eastlakes and Mascot said they had noticed a lot of Hells Angels in the area recently.
"They have been in the pubs and cafes and most of them are of Turkish descent," one local man said.
The Comanchero, which has chapters all over Sydney, has traditionally had strong footholds in Maroubra and Coogee. Until recently the Hells Angels were a smaller group centred in the inner west and the city.
But since the airport brawl, the Hells Angels have been actively recruiting and significantly increasing its numbers and influence throughout Sydney.
Two years ago a series of incidents, including a car bombing, were attributed to a turf war between the Comanchero and Notorious.
But the Hells Angels recruitment drive has seen many Notorious members now "patching over" to them.
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/national/drive-by-shooting-rocks-sydneys-eastlakes/story-fnii5s41-1226676736717
Detectives haven't named the gangs publicly but have said they will act as peacemakers between the groups in a bid to stop any revenge shootings.
"We are hopeful we can engage with personnel from both gangs to try to get them to evade any sort of retribution," Detective Inspector Dave Laidlaw, of the homicide squad, said.
"At this stage inquiries reveal that these persons have been engaged or associated with the OMCG (outlaw motorcycle gangs) around the area.
"We believe it is a dispute between two gangs, rival gangs. The motive could be a turf war or it could be a personal fight."
The victim, Tyrone Lee Slemnick, a known Hells Angel, is one of many moving into the Eastlakes area as the gang pushes its way into the eastern suburbs - traditionally a Comanchero strong hold.
Friends said Slemnick leaves behind a two-year-old daughter.
A woman at the scene, whose daughter was close to the slain bikie member, said the family was in despair when word of his murder spread.
"My daughter is not coping with the emotional scene she witnessed when called late (Monday) night," she said.
Trouble between the two groups has been escalating ever since Hells Angels associate Anthony Zervos was bashed to death when the two gangs engaged in a huge brawl at Sydney Airport in 2009.
Tensions rose further in February last year when the Hells Angels announced on their website that they had opened a Bondi Beach chapter, a move which sparked a number of incidents, including a car bombing.
Senior police said it's common knowledge the Hells Angels are recruiting heavily and attempting to expand all over Sydney, not just in the east.
Locals in Eastlakes and Mascot said they had noticed a lot of Hells Angels in the area recently.
"They have been in the pubs and cafes and most of them are of Turkish descent," one local man said.
The Comanchero, which has chapters all over Sydney, has traditionally had strong footholds in Maroubra and Coogee. Until recently the Hells Angels were a smaller group centred in the inner west and the city.
But since the airport brawl, the Hells Angels have been actively recruiting and significantly increasing its numbers and influence throughout Sydney.
Two years ago a series of incidents, including a car bombing, were attributed to a turf war between the Comanchero and Notorious.
But the Hells Angels recruitment drive has seen many Notorious members now "patching over" to them.
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/national/drive-by-shooting-rocks-sydneys-eastlakes/story-fnii5s41-1226676736717