Halifax: Retribution

were cut short last night when a man was gunned down

aboard a river vessel... the incident,

but they urge everyone to avoid the CBD for the night.

..area. Police urge... ..confirmed the shooting

was a random act... ..with information...

What we can confirm is a male was fatally shot,

with no further witnesses to the incident.

A second shooting in as many days has now been confirmed.

The city is on high alert.

A 25-year-old office worker

is the latest victim to be gunned down in broad daylight,

with no understanding of why he was specifically...

..within the police force

have indicated the same high-power rifle was used in both attacks,

prompting police to focus their investigation

to those who carry a licence to these highly restricted firearms.

After the third city shooting in Melbourne

in as many months,

the Premier has recalled a former top cop from the United States,

who has been working with the FBI.

Commander Tom Saracen will head a specially designated taskforce

established to track down the sniper

who has held Melbourne under siege.

Duh. Hey, Janey.

Hey, that sounds great. Are you doing that at the festival?

Yeah, well, it's this or 'Psycho Killer'

and that's not really appropriate.

Probably not. Oh, shit.

I'm off. Made a decision?

No, Ben, I can't. Look, my best student's in trouble

with her thesis. Boring.

She's right. You won't miss me.

We always miss you. Yeah, right.

I've got an assignment and I'm still going.

Boring. Anyway, some of us have real jobs, so see ya.

Serena?

Too soon?

No, just not funny.

Come on, it's a little bit funny.

Serena, what's going on with you?

That's not up to your usual standard.

Look, I know there are some problems with the beginning,

but once I get into my rhythm, you're gonna love it. Please?

Yes, well, lucky for you, I've planned to finish it on the weekend.

We'll talk on Monday.

Thanks.

Boss, we found it. Sniper's nest.

It's about bloody time.

OK, it's about 400m, within range of the right kind of weapon.

Security cameras didn't catch anything, so...

There was no cameras in the stairs,

which means the shooter could have entered and left on foot.

There's a carpark down below.

About 90 cars used it between 8pm and midnight,

so we're checking the tapes.

Casings?

Doesn't leave much behind.

That's it.

Powder marks and you can only see them with a spectrometer.

Jane?

It's been a long time.

Hello, Tom.

I'm heading up the shooter taskforce.

Yes, I know.

What can I do for you?

The shootings are getting closer together

and we're not reacting fast enough.

I need your input.

Well, I'm... I'm happy to help.

But we didn't exactly bond last time we met, did we?

Well, that was just a healthy disagreement, that's all that was.

Anyway, I got you a, um, visitor's pass, so 1:00 would be great.

Well, I'll have to check my diary... Excuse me, I have to take this call.

Tom... 1pm.

1:00.

I have given my total support to the Commander here

and I have promised whatever resources he needs.

Alright, we'll take some questions now.

Are you looking for a lone wolf? Commander.

Really can't comment on that right now,

but what I can say is that this is an ongoing threat

and that public safety is our number-one priority.

There is no doubt that this is very stressful and it's a trying time.

But I want to assure everyone that the police and the government

are working together

and we will bring this perpetrator to justice.

OK, I think this is probably a very good time

to bring this press conference to an end.

Thanks, everyone.

Tom, I need results and I need them now.

Yeah, so do I.

Of course, you have my full support.

I have her full support.

That's the kiss of death.

I'm sorry if I offended you at Quantico.

Well, you wouldn't be the first to call forensic psychiatry overrated.

Well, they sent me in to spice up the panel.

By humiliating me?

That wasn't my intention.

It was nothing personal.

So you think it's someone with a military background?

Yeah, we've been looking into that,

and criminal groups and terrorist groups and gun clubs.

And it all comes up to a dead end.

So, we think that this is the weapon of choice.

This is not your ordinary weekend shooter.

This person can avoid CC cameras, comes and goes as they please.

I mean, how do you track someone that leaves no clues behind?

Well, who do you think you're looking for?

His counter-surveillance is so good...

I think he might be one of us - a cop, or was one.

Come on, let's meet the team.

Come in and settle down.

Um, I'm sure you're all familiar with Professor Halifax.

Oh, Jane.

So, first impressions.

Well, there's not a lot about this case that you can say is usual.

It's not usual that a marksman, or a terrorist,

takes such care to avoid detection

and gives absolutely no indication of his motives.

Usually, they make some kind of a public statement.

While that may come, for the moment at least,

he seems content to terrorise the city

and taunt you with your impotence.

So, where do you start?

The sites that he did the shootings from

are unlikely to be totally random.

That's not the way the mind works.

There'll be a logic there somewhere.

Convenience, familiarity, something to do with his occupation.

Some routine so commonplace it makes him, or her, seem invisible.

Her? Females account for less than 8% of homicide offenders.

Mila Bronski, seconded from Homicide.

Yes, I admit that it's unlikely,

but you can't assume you're looking for a male,

or the same person every time.

Well, so how important are targets if they're so random?

Well, they can't be completely random -

they're all middle-aged white men.

Well, that's the thing, you analyse everything.

It's about making connections.

That and what the nature of the shootings tells us

about the person at the end of the gun.

Well, so what's it tell us here?

That he seems to like his victims at a distance.

Because?

Maybe he doesn't have the stomach to do it up close.

OK, great. When can you start?

I've got a job, if you haven't noticed.

Yes, and I've got a shooter and I need to get into his head.

Well, you'll have to find someone else.

Look, if it's about leave, I'll make calls. I'll make...

Tom, you're not listening. It's not negotiable.

I don't do this work anymore.

Jane, you're the best there is.

There's something else, Jane. What's going on?

There's nothing.

I'm sorry. What's going on...

I've got a lecture to get to.

Hello, beautiful. Ahh, it's freezing out there.

What's that? Oh...

The Phenomenology of Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs

and the Dynamics of Proscribed Behaviour'.

Riveting.

And I have promised whatever resources he needs.

Alright, we'll take some questions now.

Is this the work of a terrorist cell?

There's been no credible claims of responsibility.

You know him?

Oh, it's Tom Saracen. He's the head of the taskforce.