The Australian

THE Rebels motorcycle gang has denied any involvement in the fatal shooting of a rival Bandidos gang member in Geelong.

One Rebels gang member who answered the door at their clubhouse on an industrial site in north Geelong said the club was not involved in the murder of senior Bandido Ross "Rosco" Brand.

"We had nothing to do with it," he said.

The gang member, sporting a tattoo of the American Confederate flag on his neck, also said the club had not yet been visited by detectives working on the case.

"No mate, we haven't seen them," he said.

Geelong is rife with rumours that a revenge attack is imminent following the death of Brand, who was shot in the head as he left the Bandidos clubhouse in the Geelong suburb of Breakwater on Wednesday night.

The rumours also name the alleged murderer and say he won't live past the weekend.

But investigating police, under the command of experienced Homicide Squad detective inspector Steve Clark, say they are not aware of any particular suspect.





The Geelong chapters of the Bandidos and Rebels have waged a long running bloody feud.

In recent years, Geelong police have investIgated a string of attacks on Rebel and Bandido members, while the Bandidos clubhouse has been shot at and the Rebels headquarters was firebombed.

Police suspected five Rebels gang members over a gun attack on Mr Brand's Torquay home last year.

Det Insp Clark said police believe Mr Brand was targeted on Wednesday night.

Floral tributes continued to be added outside the Bandidos' club at the Breakwater industrial site in south Geelong today with one describing Mr Brand as an "angel" and another saying "lost but not forgotten".

A knock on the high security door that was guarded by a CCTV camera went unanswered.

Police are remaining tightlipped about the progress of their investigation saying they have a whole range of inquiries they are yet to make.

Det Insp Clark said police are keeping an open mind on the shooting and are not necessarily assuming it was carried out by a rival gang.

The 51 year-old bikie had prior convictions for violence, firearms and weapons.

A volley of shots was fired from a white twin cab ute parked outside the clubhouse at the men as they left the premises just after 6pm (AEDT) on Wednesday.