The Canberra leader of the Comanchero MC has died in a fight at a bar in the city’s CBD overnight.
Police were called to Kokomo’s on the corner of Genge and Bunda streets at 12:05am after reports of a “disturbance”.
A 48-year-old man died at the scene.
It is confirmed that the man was Comanchero’s Canberra commander Pitasoni Ulavalu.
He was stabbed inside and died outside the venue.
Detective Acting Superintendent Matthew Reynolds confirmed the altercation started within Kokomo’s before a man was found dead outside.
“We haven’t determined the cause of death at this time,” he said.
“We will forensically investigate that and there will be a post-mortem investigation.”
A second man was injured and treated at the scene by paramedics before being taken to hospital.
“The second man has non-life-threatening injuries and we will be speaking to him when we are able to,” Detective Reynolds said.
Detective Reynolds said police were investigating links to motorcycle clubs.
He said police were also investigating reports that a brawl developed within the venue.
“There is CCTV of the incident and there were quite a number of people involved in the disturbance at the licenced premises,” he said.
Police are appealing to anyone who was at the bar at the time to come forward, and believe some patrons recorded the incident on their mobile phones.
“There were a number of patrons and witnesses in the premises at the time … and we’re asking anyone who has video or CCTV or phone images in relation to this incident to contact ACT Policing,” Detective Reynolds said.
No one has been charged at this stage.
The area around the bar remains cordoned off and there were emotional scenes this morning as family and friends of the victim visited the location.
Kokomo’s reopened less than a month ago after closing due to the coronavirus lockdown.
It is the second death at a licenced venue this month, after Warren Hordpenko died in a fight at the Kingston Hotel.
Detective Reynolds said although the incidents were not related, the two deaths were “concerning”.
“We’re taking this very seriously, two people have lost their lives and we’re putting all our resources into investigating that,” he said.
Make sure you have subscribed to our Facebook page or Twitter to stay tuned!
Source: ABC News