Aaron Khalid Osmani, 37, died in hospital from his injuries after he was shot outside the Love Machine Nightclub
The security guard who was killed in a brutal drive-by shooting outside a popular Melbourne nightclub has been remembered as a ‘beautiful soul’ who was loved by all.
Aaron Khalid Osmani, 37, died in hospital from his injuries after he was shot in the face while working at the Love Machine Nightclub near Little Chapel Street in Prahran at around 3.20am on Sunday.
Three other men, two guards and a patron lining up to get into the nightclub, were also shot and taken to Royal Alfred Hospital for treatment.
One of the men, aged 28, remains in a critical condition while the two others, aged 50 and 29, are stable with non-life threatening injuries.
Friends and colleagues of Mr Osmani flooded social media with tributes to the ‘kind soul’.
‘My heart is broken… you were the most kind-hearted soul I have met since I started working at Love Machine,’ wrote one female worker at the club.
‘The most humble security guard I have ever had the pleasure to call a friend.’
‘You were everything to me. I’m broken that you are gone,’ wrote another.
Aaron Khalid Osmani, 37, died in hospital from his injuries after he was shot outside the Love Machine Nightclub near Little Chapel Street in Prahran at around 3.20am on Sunday
Forensic police were at the scene outside popular nightclub Love Machine on Sunday morning
The footpath was splattered with blood for more than 100 metres as one of the men shot in the arm ran from the scene to get help
Steve Yousif, a host at the nightclub, also took to Facebook after the tragedy.
He said: ‘Overwhelmed with all your calls and texts, nothing but love for you all.
‘What happened last night was uncalled for and devastating. For some of you it was a night out, the rest of the Love Machine family lost a beautiful soul today.’
Police say the gunman was driving a stolen black Porsche Cayenne, which was later found burnt out in Wollert in the city’s north on Sunday morning.
Detective Inspector Andrew Stamper, from Victoria’s Homicide Squad, described the injuries as ‘horrific’.
‘Those gunshot wounds were from a fairly close proximity… so, you know… horrific injuries.’
‘This is just a horrendous act. It’s a busy nightclub, one of the main nightclubs in Melbourne in one of the main entertainment precincts in Melbourne.’
The scene outside the Love Machine nightclub in Prahran after the deadly shooting
Clothing and bullet casings remained scattered along the footpath
Police are expected to investigate links to an outlaw bikie gang which has made extortion attempts on the nightclub, The Age reported.
The nightclub was still packed with patrons at the time of the shooting, who left the venue via a back entrance after police deemed the area safe.
A security guard at the nightclub told Seven’s Sunday Sunrise he had no idea there had been a shooting outside and there was no panic inside the venue.
Sunrise also reported a person shot in the arm ran up Chapel Street to get help at a nearby business.
Blood could be seen on the footpath for more than 100 metres from the scene.
Clothes and bullet casings were also scattered along the footpath outside the nightclub.
As daylight broke, forensic police spent several hours photographing evidence at the scene
Local resident Edie said the shooting was rare for the neighbourhood.
‘There is a bit of trouble around here, but it’s usually fighting and stabbings,’ she told the Herald Sun.
‘It’s scary because it’s right on your doorstep – it could have happened to one of us.’
The venue’s Facebook page had promised a night of old school grooves on Saturday night.
The Love Machine is one of Melbourne’s most popular nightclubs and was recently refurbished by new owners.
Police said an investigation is underway and the exact circumstances are still being established.
Police are also reviewing CCTV footage from the vicinity.
Anyone with information or footage of the incident should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
There was a heavy presence of police in Prahran on Sunday as they investigated the shooting
The Love Machine was still packed with nightclub patrons at the time of the shooting
One man is dead and another is fighting for life following Sunday morning’s drive-by shooting