Jimboomba woman Vana-Reese Schuster-Togiatau, 19, has been identified as the innocent bystander fighting for life after being shot in the head and neck outside a Queensland pub.
She remained in a critical and unstable condition at Princess Alexandra Hospital on Monday afternoon. Metro South Health confirmed the teenager is still fighting for life in the intensive care unit.
Four people were wounded outside Fitzy’s Loganholme, south of Brisbane, on Saturday night, while more than 100 spectators, including families with young children, attended the Logan City Titles boxing event.
Phil Austin, from the Australian National Boxing Federation Queensland, categorically rejected suggestions it was a bikie or organised crime attack targeting the boxing.
Austin was in the venue’s foyer when the shots erupted.
‘The wider community is questioning how can this happen in Logan?’ Queensland Police Chief Superintendent Mel Adams said on Monday.
Jimboomba woman Vana-Reese Schuster-Togiatau remains critically injured after suffering gunshot wounds to her head and neck
Vision of bullet marks on a mirror after four people were shot outside Fitzy’s Loganholme during a boxing event on Saturday night
Boxing official Phil Austin, pictured right, was in the foyer when shots erupted, with flying glass striking his arm
‘That’s a popular local pub, a well-respected institution. That location had children, teenagers, mums and dads at that sporting event.’
Taskforce Maxima is a specialist Queensland Police squad that investigates outlaw motorcycle gangs and serious organised crime.
It is assisting Logan CIB and State Crime Command, which are jointly leading the investigation into the Fitzy’s Loganholme shooting.
But Austin told Daily Mail that speculation linking the boxing event to bikies and organised crime was ‘people putting two and two together and getting five’.
‘I haven’t seen any reputed organised crime figures at a fight show in this country in years,’ he said.
‘Bikies used to go to events, but since the government changed their laws, you just don’t see them.’
Austin said he did not recognise any of the victims and could not say whether they had been attending the boxing.
‘I don’t even know if they were there to watch the boxing,’ he said.
Austin rejected speculation linking the boxing event to bikies and organised crime
Police say shots were fired from a Mitsubishi’s front passenger window near the venue’s drop-off area
Two men wearing balaclavas and gloves were seen inside the vehicle, according to police
‘There’s more than just boxing happening at that pub.’
He said no fighters or trainers appeared to have been involved and challenged assumptions that the boxing event itself had been targeted.
‘We just happened to be there,’ he said.
‘It could have been the flower arranging show. It’s just the fact that we were there.
‘We have no idea why what happened happened. The only thing that we know for sure is it’s a tragedy.’
Austin said he had just finished seeing a fighter and left the room being used as the dressing rooms near the venue’s front doors when the shooting began.
‘I’m in the foyer. I’ve got maybe a couple of metres, and then there’s just a series of shots very, very quickly,’ he said.
‘We’re talking about five or six shots in that or less seconds.’
Three men aged 27, 37 and 38 remain in hospital with serious injuries but are improving, police said
Flying glass struck the back of his arm.
‘I was wearing a long shirt. Nothing hurt, but it just sort of reinforced me like, okay … this is happening,’ he said.
‘Before I could sort of basically say to myself, ‘Oh crap,’ it’s over.’
Austin saw a car with its lights on but did not see anyone get out.
‘It was my impression that they were actually still in the car,’ he said.
Police said a Mitsubishi approached the passenger drop-off area during an intermission and shots were fired from its front passenger window.
Two men wearing balaclavas and gloves were seen inside.
Austin went to alert his crew in the boxing hall at the rear of the venue, away from where the shots had been fired.
The Mitsubishi was found burnt out at Waterford West shortly after the shooting
‘Then people’s reactions start to kick in, and there’s a bit of pandemonium, really, a lot of very, very angry people,’ he said.
‘They used the boxing room, basically, like a safe haven for everybody.’
Patrons began leaving through the back as hotel staff and security marshalled the crowd.
Chief Superintendent Mel Adams said everyone who witnessed the violence would carry some trauma from the night.
‘This could have been your family member,’ she said.
‘This was a random group of people at the front of a popular hotel that became victims.’
The three other victims, men aged 27, 37 and 38, all suffered gunshot wounds to their abdomens. The 38-year-old was also shot in the arm.
All three remained in serious conditions on Monday but were improving, Adams said.
Police have not confirmed whether the men knew one another.
Police believe the attack involved pre-planning but say it remains premature to speculate about gang or organised crime involvement.
The Mitsubishi was found burnt out at Waterford West shortly after the shooting.
CCTV from nearby homes showed its occupants being collected by another vehicle after the car was torched. Police believe one of those involved may have suffered burns or another injury.
A ute was also found burnt later that night, with investigators still examining whether it was connected.
Adams urged anyone who knew or suspected who was responsible to come forward.
‘There will be people out there who know who did this or suspect who did this,’ she said.
For Austin, who has a son the same age as the critically injured teenager, the shooting has hit particularly hard.
‘I’ve got a son her age, so it’s really, really hit home hard,’ he said.
He offered the federation’s support to the victims, their families and friends.
‘This is an awful, awful time for everyone,’ he said.
‘Let’s just hope this girl recovers. It’s just awful.’
