Charlie Saleh,Sapphire Suite nightclub shootings outlaw bikie gangs suspected

In the first shooting, a 50-year-old man was shot in the upper thigh as a car drove past the Sapphire Suite nightclub about 8.40pm.The 50-year-old is believed to be Charlie Saleh, the owner of Sapphire Suite.Two witnesses said they thought a bouncer, or someone standing outside the club, was shot as a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo, either silver or gold, drove away.The car was last seen heading towards the city. The victim was taken to St Vincent's Hospital and was in a stable condition.One witness said the hooded gunman leaned out of the car and fired "several" shots.
Mr Saleh is the father of Hassan Saleh, a former rugby league player for Wests Tigers, St George Illawarra and the Cronulla Sharks.Hassan is also the club's general manager. He was unavailable for comment this morning.Eight hours later, at 4.20am, three men were walking along Ward Avenue near the corner of Kellett Street when a car pulled up, a man got out and fired at least one shot at the group.The shot missed the men and the shooter got back in the car and fled.A man who lives in an apartment directly above the Ward Avenue shooting, who wished to be identified only as Barry, said he heard two shots."I heard some people screaming and yelling ... and then I heard a couple of shots," he said.
"I didn't know it was a gun - we just take those kind of popping noises for granted around here - and then I heard a car take off."Police closed off Ward Avenue between Bayswater Road and Kellett Street to examine the area.About 7.30am, a forensic officer was seen to remove a small silver knife from the road, where it lay wrapped in cloth.This is not the first time the Sapphire Suite has been the site of a shooting. A bouncer was shot in the leg outside the club in March 2006.Wayne Rodney Schneider, an alleged Hells Angels bikie gang member, was charged over the incident.

owner of a Kings Cross nightclub is in hospital and three men are lucky to have escaped injury after two shootings only eight hours and 200 metres apart overnight.One shooting took place in front of the Sapphire Suite nightclub on Kellett Street. The second took place near the corner of Ward Avenue and Kellett Street.The NSW Police gang squad - which runs the high profile Operation Ranmore - were informed and may take over the investigation into both shootings.Police cautioned there is no evidence the two are related. The shootings left two crime scenes and few witnesses.

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