In a brazen execution that sent shockwaves through Australia's criminal underworld, Rebels motorcycle gang president Nick Martin was fatally shot by a sniper while attending a public event at Perth's Kwinana Motorplex. The calculated assassination unfolded before hundreds of horrified witnesses during a car racing event on a balmy December evening.
The Night Terror Struck
As drag cars roared down the strip on December 12, 2020, Martin sat in the spectator stands alongside his family and associates. Witnesses described hearing a single gunshot that cut through the engine noise, followed by chaos as Martin collapsed with a catastrophic wound.
"It was military precision," one stunned witness recounted. "One shot, absolute panic everywhere. People were screaming, diving for cover, not knowing if more shots were coming."
A Calculated Criminal Assassination
Police investigations revealed the shooter had positioned themselves in bushland approximately 300 metres from the motorplex. The assassin used a high-powered rifle with a sophisticated scope, suggesting professional planning and execution.
Detective Senior Sergeant Troy Hinton described the operation as "meticulously planned and coldly executed" by individuals with significant firearms training and surveillance experience.
Gangland Turf Wars Turn Deadly
Martin's killing represents the most dramatic escalation in Australia's ongoing bikie gang conflicts. The Rebels president had survived multiple previous assassination attempts, including a car bombing that injured several innocent bystanders.
Law enforcement experts suggest the public nature of the killing was intended to send a powerful message throughout the criminal fraternity about the reach and capability of those who ordered the hit.
Investigation Breakthroughs and Arrests
Western Australia Police launched one of the most extensive investigations in state history, resulting in multiple arrests:
- Former sniper David Pye charged with being the getaway driver
- Alleged shooter Zachary Robinson facing murder charges
- Several associates charged with conspiracy and weapons offences
The prosecution alleges the assassination team conducted extensive reconnaissance missions, studying Martin's movements and identifying the motorplex event as their opportunity.
Community Impact and Security Concerns
The brazen public execution has raised serious questions about community safety and the audacity of organised crime operations. Hundreds of families were present at what should have been a safe community event.
"When criminal warfare spills into public spaces where families gather, it represents a new level of threat to community safety," noted criminologist Professor David Brown.
The Kwinana Motorplex tragedy continues to reverberate through Australian law enforcement and criminal circles, representing one of the most sophisticated and public gangland assassinations in the nation's history.
