The son of a former bikie boss has been kidnapped and killed, sparking a major murder investigation that spans across Melbourne. Patrick Longordo, 30, was allegedly taken from his South Morang home by up to seven armed men in the early hours of the morning, before his body was discovered near a playground in Tarneit, almost 60 kilometres away.
Details of the Incident
Detective Inspector Dean Thomas from the Homicide Squad confirmed the attack was targeted. "It appears at this point in time that the offending is somewhat targeted," he said. "Yes, yes he was known to police." It is understood that up to seven Sudanese males forced their way through the front door of the 30-year-old's home around 3am.
Patrick Longordo was asleep when the machete-wielding attackers struck. His brother James and two children were also inside the residence at the time. "To be home in your house and to have something like this happen is extremely, very, very frightening," Thomas said.
Victim's Background
The victim is the son of former Mongols president Joseph Longordo. The family has a history with law enforcement, and police are investigating possible motives linked to his father's past.
Sequence of Events
The victim was dragged from the family home into a dark-coloured Mazda, captured on security footage racing through the streets of Tarneit. His body was found in a public park, just metres from a playground, around 4.30am. One local woman expressed her shock: "I was here last night and usually I don't feel unsafe in this area. Now, I think I would think twice before going out when it's dark." Another resident added, "There's never any trouble in the area. It's really, really quiet."
The Mazda was later abandoned and set alight on a secluded road surrounded by paddocks near Ainsbury just before 6am. Investigators are now searching for another getaway vehicle and have made an urgent appeal for witnesses and dashcam footage to help cover the broad area.
Police Investigation
"I assure the community that we have a large number of Homicide Squad detectives working on this investigation and we will piece it together," Thomas said. Police are on high alert due to concerns of possible retribution. It is understood that Joseph Longordo is currently on a flight home from Bali after receiving news of his son's death.
Authorities have revealed that the family is not fully cooperating with the police investigation. Meanwhile, those responsible for the kidnapping and murder are still at large. Police are canvassing multiple suburbs in an effort to track down the suspects and prevent any further violence.
