Four people are in hospital suffering gunshot wounds after gunmen fired into a crowd at a ‘fight night’ event at AVC’s Fitzys in Brisbane’s south.
Police were summoned to the pub on Bryants Road in Loganholme to reports of shots fired from a vehicle.
Fitzys is an iconic venue in Brisbane’s Southside by the Pacific Highway and the Hyperdome shopping centre, known for being central to both the Gold Coast and Brisbane City.
On Saturday night its large functions and events space was hosting a Logan City Titles Fight Night, put on by the Australian National Boxing Federation, with amateur and professional bouts involving men, women and juniors. It was last held in 2024.
Around 8:15pm, during an intermission, a number of people were gathered outside in a drop off area when a silver Mitsubishi is said to have approached and stopped close to the group and fired an unknown number of shots, hitting four people. The car quickly exited the car park.
Police were reportedly there within four minutes and swarmed the scene, amid bullet holes and blood.
Two casualties were rushed to Princess Alexandra Hospital and two taken to Royal Brisbane.
A 19-year-old woman from Jimboomba was wounded in her neck and head. She has undergone surgery and is said to be in critical condition. A 38-year-old man from Browns Plains suffered shots to his abdomen and arm and is reportedly serious but stable following surgery.
Two other men, a 37-year-old from Salisbury and a 27-year-old from Cornubia each also sustained gunshots to the abdomen and after surgery are in stable condition.
CCTV, backed by witness accounts, note two men in the vehicle, wearing balaclavas and gloves, and initial investigations suggest the shots were fired from the passenger’s window.
Just 20 minutes after the shooting the Mitsubishi was seen on fire at Waterford West, about 12 kilometres west of the pub, and its passengers were seen being collected by a second vehicle.
Later that night a dual-cab ute was torched at Tamborine, 25 kilometres south of Waterford West, and a second crime scene was declared. investigators are attempting to establish a link between the incidents and both vehicles are subject to forensic examination.
Investigations are underway and detective are looking for at least three people involved and working to establish if there is a link between those involved and injured.
While there appears to have been a degree of “pre-planning” Detective Inspector Ian Galpin says it is “premature” at this stage of the investigation to speculate if the incident was influenced by any gang activity or organised crime.
Authorities believe the 19-year-old woman was an innocent by-stander and say they don’t believe there is any further threat to the public.
Speaking on Sunday morning Logan mayor Jon Raven relayed the attack had sent a “shock wave” through the city. Ironically, a goal of the event was to help children attending avoid violence.
“This is going to impact them for the rest of their lives,” lamented Raven.
Premier David Crisafulli added that his government had recently passed the strongest laws in the country on drive-by shootings.
“It’s just completely unacceptable that people on a night out at a pub doing something as Queenslander as you can possibly find can be caught and find themselves as collateral damage in such a horrendous, horrendous crime,” said Crisafulli.
Organisers of the local boxing event are reportedly cooperating with police and say no information was received prior to suggest such an incident may occur.
“It’s horrific; it’s something that her family should never have to go through,” said Inspector Galpin of the young woman’s condition.
Police are urging anyone with information to contact Policelink or Crime Stoppers by calling 1800 333 000 or reporting online at Crime Stoppers Queensland.
AVC headquarters confirmed the pub remains closed, with a reopening date yet to be determined.
