Gnangara shooting: Wanted 25-year-old Joshua Colin Duperouzel arrested as Joe Versace probe continues
The Rebels bikie associate who was sought for police questioning in connection to a gangland shooting in Gnangara has been arrested.
Joshua Colin Duperouzel’s arrest came about two hours after police made a public appeal for his whereabouts on Monday, revealing they wanted to question him over the death of Joe Versace on Thursday.
Mr Duperouzel, 25, was apprehended in Belmont.
Major Crime Division Detective Inspector Quentin Flatman earlier on Monday said “inquiries that WA Police have undertaken so far indicate to us that he is connected to what occurred at Gnangara”.
Mr Versace, 34, was gunned down in a Gnangara workshop on Thursday afternoon before the shooter, or shooters, fled.
“Anyone who sees Mr Duperouzel, we ask that you contact Crime Stoppers and let us know,” Det-Insp. Flatman said.
“We also say a personal appeal to Mr Duperouzel, that if you are watching this, please make yourself known to police, you can hand yourself into a police station or let us know where you are so that we can have a conversation with you.”
Detectives also flagged they were seeking information about the movements of a black BMW X5 on Thursday, which was found by a member of the public abandoned in Glen Forrest at 6pm, about two hours after Mr Versace was shot.
Police believe the car is connected to the shooting and it has since been seized and forensically examined.
Det-Insp. Flatman said Mr Duperouzel was “on the periphery” when asked if he had connections to outlaw motorcycle gangs.
His social media shows him wearing Rebels motorcycle gang clothing and associating with other senior members.
Det-Insp. Flatman said “we are concerned for him and his role within the community” but said the event was “somewhat connected to a small group of people” so the community at large was not at risk.
“Having said that this is why we are asking for people to know if they see him, we are asking people to be alert but not alarmed,” he said.
He said police cannot rule out that he has a firearm or has access to a firearm. He does not have a firearms licence.
“We don’t believe he is a threat, we don’t believe the community needs to be alarm but they certainly need to be alert and aware that we are seeking him,” he said.
Det-Insp. Flatman said he would not say whether the victim and Mr Duperouzel are known to each other.
The senior detective said those police have already spoken to had been “very helpful” with the investigation.
Mr Duperouzel is of fair skin, 186cm tall, of medium build with a shaved head and green eyes.
Anyone who sees him should contact police immediately on triple-0.
It is understood Versace, the father of a young daughter, was shot twice — in the stomach and chest — inside the shed about 4pm.
The West Australian has been told Mr Versace had affiliations to bikie gangs and was known to be used as an underworld “enforcer”.
As well as sparking a manhunt for the shooter, the gang crime squad rolled out raids across the city in an attempt to suppress bikie activity. So far 28 search warrants have been conducted, with more expected.
One of the most high-profile scalps caught up in the raids was Rebels boss Karl Labrook, who was seen being escorted out of a Ridgewood home by police on Sunday.
Records show the home is owned by the company MSSD Enterprises Pty Ltd, which lists 24-year-old Tia Martin as the sole director and secretary.
Tia is the daughter of slain Rebels chief Nick Martin, who was assassinated at long-range at Perth Motorplex in December 2020.
The latest Rebels link came as another member, Joseph Raimondi, was photographed consoling mourners at the scene of Versace’s death.
The West revealed Raimondi would be charged for displaying his gang tattoos in full view of the public — and the police — that night under the McGowan Government’s tough new anti-bikie laws.
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