BOWDEN STALKED
NOTORIOUS bikie Shane Bowden was a dead man walking three weeks before he was shot 21 times in the garage of his Pimpama unit. Police on Friday revealed two men put a tracking device on his luxury car that allowed them to follow his movements. He was murdered last October after a latenight gym session.
A GPS tracker was fitted to slain bikie Shane Bowden’s luxury car in the lead-up to his execution-style murder, with police revealing he was monitored for three weeks before he was shot 21 times.
The planting of the tracker and surveillance highlighted the “sophistication” and planning involved by likely killers from the Mongols bikie club, police said on Friday.
Bowden was shot 21 times in the garage of his Pimpama property on October 12, 2019 after returning from a latenight gym session.
One shooter used a machine pistol firing 19 bullets, the other used a shotgun.
Detectives released more CCTV footage on Friday showing two figures walking towards Bowden’s black BMW at the Pimpama unit complex. Police said one person appeared to place a GPS tracker on the vehicle, while the other stood guard.
Police revealed the suspects linked to the device drove past Bowden’s unit “multiple times” and parked in the same vacant lot used by the waiting shooters on the night of the murder.
Detective Superintendent Brendan Smith said a GPS tracker was recovered from the vehicle and investigations were ongoing.
“It clearly shows the premeditation of the people involved in this. To go to that much trouble you would suggest that it only happens in the movies, well this is happening right here in Queensland.”
He said detectives believed the Mongols gang were behind the murder.
“This is the extent of their sophistication, that they are using tracking devices. Personal surveillance on their victims. More reason that we need to have these people taken off the street,” Supt Smith said, adding it showed the killers had been planning the murder for “some time”.
Supt Smith said it was believed the surveillance started after Bowden was released from hotel quarantine following a border bungle at the height of Victoria’s Covid-19 outbreak. Bowden was part of the Finks Terror Team in the early 2000s before joining the Mongols. He was removed from the club and rejoined the Finks.
Police on Monday raided a property linked to the Mongols, seizing a truck captured on CCTV travelling in convoy with two vehicles linked to the murder. The cars were later found burnt out.
Detectives also seized electronic devices, a handgun unrelated to the murder, and burnt clothes.
Police have offered a $250,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest of those responsible for the murder. An indemnity from prosecution is also offered for those who weren’t directly involved in the shooting death.
“We know there’s a number of people involved right through from the actual shooter, to the planners, to the leaders, to those involved in providing those getaway vehicles that were found burnt out. All of these people need to consider their positions and realise that murder carries life imprisonment.”
Detectives are appealing for anyone who may recognise these vehicles or know the identity of the two suspects to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or Police Link on 131 444.