An 81-year-old man faces charges after allegedly attempting to shoot a 23-year-old man before making a slow exit from the scene, an event captured on security footage that has drawn comparisons to Clint Eastwood's portrayal of Walt Kowalski in the 2008 film 'Gran Torino'.
The incident occurred on August 4 in Hoppers Crossing, a western suburb of Melbourne, Australia, at BBL Auto First on Hammer Court. The alleged attack took place in the middle of the day.
CCTV footage obtained by Wyndham TV shows an elderly man, described as frail, slowly walking to an older model Ford Falcon station wagon. A younger person is seen exiting the driver's side to allow the man to take the wheel before the vehicle drives away slowly.
The slow getaway prompted a significant police response, including the deployment of the police air wing. The Ford Falcon was later located on Industrial Avenue, where officers converged.
The man surrendered to police without incident and was taken into custody. He has been charged with making threats to kill and related firearms offenses. Authorities have declined to provide further details as the matter is before the courts.
Court documents are expected to allege that the man, from Wyndham Vale, attempted to fire his weapon multiple times at the younger victim, but the firearm reportedly malfunctioned.
The incident has fueled speculation online. A spokesperson for BBL Auto First denied online allegations about the business, stating, "We can't discuss that unfortunately, but I've seen all the comments and they are unfounded."
While no physical injuries were reported, the business stated there was a psychological toll from the event.
This incident has drawn parallels to other instances involving elderly individuals and firearms. In 2019, 89-year-old Domenico Natale was sentenced to four-and-a-half years in prison for hunting down and attempting to kill a sex worker in Melbourne. He pleaded guilty to charges including stalking, reckless conduct endangering life, making a threat to kill, and using an unregistered firearm. The woman escaped uninjured in that incident.
