Essendon North Cafe Hit by Gunfire, Two Arrested After Dramatic Pursuit
Two men have been arrested after allegedly firing shots into an Essendon North cafe in the early hours of Friday morning. The dramatic incident, involving a police pursuit and a stolen vehicle, has left the local community and cafe owner deeply shaken.
Two men have been taken into custody following a brazen overnight shooting at a popular Essendon North cafe. The incident, which saw multiple shots fired into Andy's Place on Mount Alexander Road, has sparked significant concern among local residents and business owners.
The events unfolded in the early hours of Friday morning, around 2:45 am, when patrolling Victoria Police officers reportedly witnessed shots being fired into the cafe. A crime scene was swiftly established at Andy's Place as authorities commenced their investigation.
Immediately after the shooting, a stolen Toyota Kluger was observed fleeing the scene. The police Air Wing quickly engaged, tracking the vehicle through Keilor and into Taylors Lakes. The occupants abandoned the vehicle in Taylors Lakes, attempting to escape on foot into a property located on Old Calder Highway.
Officers from the Critical Incident Response Team were rapidly deployed to the scene and successfully apprehended two men, aged 18 and 20, at the property. The pair are currently being interviewed by detectives, with charges expected to be laid as the investigation progresses.
Raymond Yacoub, the owner of Andy's Place, expressed profound shock and confusion regarding the attack on his business. "It's terrible. A disaster," Mr. Yacoub stated. "I've never had any issues with customers or with anyone and suddenly out of the blue it happened." He speculated that his cafe might have been targeted by mistake, unable to comprehend why his establishment would be singled out.
The incident has sent ripples through the local community. A woman working nearby, who wished not to be named, voiced her unease. "Well, it doesn't make you feel very secure at work, does it?" she remarked, highlighting the broader impact on local safety and peace of mind.
Further inquiries revealed that the vehicle used in the shooting had been reported stolen from Macleod, in Melbourne's north-east, on May 15. Police confirm that the comprehensive investigation into the cafe shooting is ongoing as they work to establish the full circumstances surrounding the alarming incident.