Gunman shoots 3 in Melbourne Australia
Pastor Dale Morgan
Gunman shoots 3 in Melbourne Australia*
POSTED: 0250 GMT (1050 HKT), June 17, 2007
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) -- A gunman opened fire on a downtown street
during the morning rush hour Monday in Australia's second largest city,
killing one man and critically wounding two other people, police said.
The suspect fled and police launched a manhunt in the southern city of
Melbourne, closing several streets and advising people to stay indoors
as tactical officers armed with shotguns fanned out and helicopters
joined the search overhead.
Police said the shooting did not appear to be a random act, and that it
was believed a woman who was one of the victims knew the gunman.
The other two victims -- including the one who died -- were male
bystanders who came to the aid of the woman during an altercation with a
man who pulled out a gun, witnesses said.
"A girl came out of a building over the road, she was screaming and a
guy had her by the hair," Ross Murchie told Australian Broadcasting Corp.
"She tried to grab hold of a taxi that was going by and the couple of
bystanders went over to ask what was happening," Murchie said. "He let
go of her hair, pulled out a gun and shot them all."
Insp. Steve Martin said the woman and one of the men who went to assist
were rushed to hospital in critical condition with gunshot wounds to
their chests. The third victim died at the scene, he said.
The shooting occurred on the corner of Flinders Lane and William Streets
in central Melbourne around 8 a.m. Monday (2200 GMT Sunday), sending
hundreds of frightened commuters fleeing.