Two mystery backpacks could hold vital clues to the ‘horrific’ stabbing death of a Comanchero bikie gang associate – as a manhunt is launched for three men and a fourth is charged with weapons offences.
Face-tattooed Levi Johnston, 23, died after being attacked by four men near the corner of Pine Mountain and Creek roads at Carindale in southern Brisbane at 1pm on Monday.
One man, 34, arrested near the scene not long after the attack was charged with possessing a revolver and an explosives charge, but three further men who got away in a white Nissan Patrol are still at large.
Taskforce Maxima, a specialist police unit focused on outlaw bikie gangs, is closely involved in the investigation.
Levi Johnston (pictured) was stabbed to death in a southern Brisbane suburb on Monday
A Black Audi hatchback initially blocked the dead man’s car in a gym car park before the Nissan four wheel drive rammed his car from the opposite side.
The police said the two backpacks that were later found nearby had come from the Audi.
Four men got out of the attackers’ cars and started smashing the windows of the 23-year-old’s car before he got out through a passenger door and ran away.
Two men chased him to a nearby residential street where one of them allegedly stabbed him multiple times.
Three men fled the scene in the Nissan, while the fourth ran away but was tracked down with police dogs and arrested.
Detective Superintendent Andrew Massingham said the attack, which happened in front of members of the public, was deeply concerning.
‘These males were extremely motivated to hunt this individual down,’ he said at the scene on Monday.
‘This incident was fully captured on CCTV. I have viewed that CCTV and it is confronting and horrific.
An officer searches bushes for clues after the stabbing death of a 23-year-old in Brisbane
One man has been arrested and four others are still on the run after escaping from the scene in a four wheel drive car. Pictured are bushes being searched
‘We don’t know the motive of what’s occurred, whether there was planning involved or whether there was an incident that escalated in the nearby streets.
‘What was clear was their intent to cause significant harm to this individual.’
On Tuesday morning, the gym was closed to all but a few pre-booked classes with others turned away at the door.
A State Emergency Service tent was set up in the car park as volunteers searched bushes and the surrounding streets for clues.
The search appears focused on finding the murder weapon.
On Tuesday morning, the gym (pictured) was closed to all but a few pre-booked classes with others turned away at the door
SES officers are pictured searching for the murder weapon in a murder inquiry in Brisbane
Four police divers in wetsuits and wielding metal detectors waded though a creek next to where one of the alleged assassins was arrested hiding in a park.
Mr Johnston was an associate of a Comanchero bikie gang in Brisbane, though he is understood not to have been a patched member.
He was previously stabbed a year ago on the Gold Coast during a fight involving outlaw bikie gang associates.
It is not known whether the two incidents are connected.
Superintendent Massingham said Monday’s attack was ‘a disturbing act, it is a brazen act… it is cowardly’.
He added that the stabbing was over in ‘less than five seconds’.
Flowers (pictured) have been left for stabbing victim Levi Johnston at the scene of his death
Superintendent Massingham told reporters that off duty medical personnel tried to help the victim at the scene but were unable to save him.
Though the motivation for the killing is unknown, police are reportedly investigating if the stabbing is connected to motorcycle gang activities.
A bystander said up to 50 people were at the scene and the gym was evacuated.
Another said they saw police chase a man up a hill away from the gym.
‘Police were redirecting traffic,’ they said.
police divers in wetsuits (pictured) waded though a creek next to where a man was arrested hiding in a park
Police divers used metal detectors (pictured) while searching for the murder weapon in a stabbing
‘Then across the road from the gym, paramedics were attending to someone on the ground who did not look like they were in a good condition.
‘There was a huge crowd of people there and everyone had their phones out filming.
‘Lots of police and paramedics on scene and a chopper flying too.’
Officers on scene closed the intersection of Pine Mountain and Creek roads in Carindale.
SES volunteers (pictured) have been taking part in the hunt for clues after a stabbing murder
SES volunteers are pictured joining the hunt for clues after a ‘horrific’ stabbing murder in Queensland
Superintendent Massingham said a post-mortem examination would be carried out on the victim on Tuesday.
He said significant resources have been allocated to the case and he is hopeful of a ‘swift resolution’.
Police have appealed for witnesses to come forward and for people to share any dashcam footage they may have with the police.
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