'Bad Boys' were gunman's target

By PATRICK GOWER and ALAN PERROTT

A notorious group of boy racers called the Bad Boy Killers were the target of a gunman who opened fire on a 100-strong crowd at an unofficial Auckland drag strip.

The Bad Boy Killers, known as the BBK, are one of two factions of boy racers blamed for tensions leading to the shooting early on Sunday which left a 25-year-old man with stomach gunshot wounds.

The criminal element among boy racers has surprised detectives and led other boy-racer "clubs" to distance themselves from them.

The shooting is the latest episode involving boy racers and the issue yesterday reached political levels, with Associate Transport Minister Judith Tizard and Labour MP Clayton Cosgrove trying to fast-track legislation allowing police to confiscate boy racers' cars.

It also prompted a meeting between Mr Cosgrove, Manukau Mayor Sir Barry Curtis and senior police in South Auckland.

During the shooting, the gunman stood above the crowd of boy racers in the Te Irirangi Drive Gull service station forecourt, aiming his rifle and firing up to 10 shots. He hit both the Otara man and the door of a black souped-up Mitsubishi.

The getaway vehicle - a "lowered" aqua-blue Mitsubishi with the registration plate "SIKNIS" - was found by police last night hidden at a Pakuranga address.

Inquiry head Detective Senior Sergeant Gary Lendrum said police were speaking to three men in relation to the shooting and said he expected a "quick resolution".

The Herald was told the gunman had returned to the forecourt to deliver "summary justice" to a group of BBK after an earlier incident in which a window was smashed.

Mr Lendrum last night confirmed the involvement of BBK members and said there was a hard core of boy racers involved in criminal activity.

"These guys would have us believe they are just interested in cars, but it is clear there is a criminal element among them, and quite a large one at that.

"I have been surprised by the extent of the [criminal underbelly] amongst the boy racers."

Several witnesses to the shooting spoken to by the Herald have said the gunman's victim was caught in the crossfire of an attack on the black Mitsubishi.

The vehicle is well known in the boy-racer community.

A spokesman for the BBK, who refused to be named, said the victim had not been part of the group for around 10 months. Neither was the gunman connected with the group.

The BBK, formed in Otara, now has 65 members across the city.

The Herald has also learned that they are feared by many boy racers and have a reputation for theft and violence.

Other boy racers yesterday spoke of some BBK members doing "standovers", making threats, using firearms and being involved in large-scale fights, much of which is not reported to the police.

"There is a myth out there that if you race the BBK and win, then look out because they will come for your car," said one.

The BBK are one of several loose groupings the boy-racer community has divided itself into which use names such as the Skyline Boys, Chosen Few and the Dirty South.

It is not known what group the gunman came from, if any.

Police have described the car used by the gunman as being "known" in boy-racer circles.

A man at the Otara address of the registered owner of the "SIKNIS" car "lent" to the gunman said he was into cars and was not involved with any group, especially not the BBK.

"The BBK are nobodies - they think they are bad but they're not."

The BBK spokesman said it was a registered club, not a gang, and formed around the quality of people's cars. He admitted it was the most notorious of the boy-racer groups but said that was because of "rumours and lies".

He admitted that BBK members had been involved in the events leading to the shooting.

Meanwhile, Ms Tizard and Mr Cosgrove will introduce a private member's bill to Parliament on Thursday.

The Land Transport (Street and Illegal Drag Racing) Amendment Bill is one of several that could be drawn from a ballot for debate, but Mr Cosgrove will seek leave from the House for it to be brought before Parliament.

It only takes one MP to say no for the move to be defeated.

If this move is unsuccessful, Ms Tizard said the bill would be included in a range of transport legislation being drafted, but they are unlikely to be put to Parliament before year's end.

National Party MPs will discuss the proposal today, but they have already said the bill does not go far enough.

Police have admitted they are struggling with the problem, and that issuing tickets is already being turned against them because racers boast of how many they get.