Authorities confirm stunt actor killed by blanks
THE grieving girlfriend of the actor shot dead during the filming of a music video in Brisbane has described him as a “true angel” as authorities confirm the prop gun he was shot with was loaded with blanks.
Father-of-one Johann Ofner, 28, died after being shot in the chest on Monday while filming a video for hip hop band Bliss N Eso at underground bar Brooklyn Standard.
The band’s management say they engaged an award-winning production company to make the clip for their song Friends Like You.
That company hired a licensed and accredited stunt company, which hired Mr Ofner, along with a licensed armourer who was on set to monitor the four firearms used.
“Johann was tragically fatally injured when a prop gun was discharged as part of filming a scene,” the management group said. “The gun was loaded with blanks, not live ammunition.”
The scene, depicting a robbery at a poker game, was to be the last filmed after a week-long shoot and was the only scene to feature weapons.
A police spokesman says it will be weeks before ballistics tests are completed and investigators are still examining the scene.
The police investigation will focus on whether workplace health and safety laws were followed
Meanwhile, Mr Ofner’s girlfriend Kati Garnett took to Instagram to remember the man she describes as “the love of my life”.
“I don’t know what I’m going to do without you, the best people are always taken from us, you were a true angel,” she wrote.
“I love you so much forever and ever.”