Ater Koth, Moses Laula Charged with Murder in Melbourne CBD Drive-by Shooting
MELBOURNE — Two men have been charged with murder following a deadly drive-by shooting that claimed the life of 26-year-old Kwar Ater in Melbourne’s CBD earlier this month.
Ater was gunned down in the early hours of Sunday, September 7, while standing with a group on Elizabeth Street. A vehicle pulled up alongside them, and shots were fired. Friends rushed him to the Royal Melbourne Hospital, where he later died.
Victoria Police say the attack was targeted. Both Ater and his associates were known to police.
Four men were arrested on Wednesday in South Melbourne by the Special Operations Group. Two of them — Ater Koth, 23, of Doveton, and Moses Laula, 22, of Clyde North — have since been charged with murder. They appeared before Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.
Laula appeared via videolink from custody, while Koth’s lawyer told the court he was suffering withdrawal from non-prescribed pharmaceutical drugs and was vulnerable due to his age.
Both men were remanded in custody and will return to court on January 21. The other two men were released pending further investigation.
Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner Martin O’Brien addressed the broader impact of recent violent incidents:
“Too many lives have already been lost and families ruined. Everyone in our community deserves to feel safe.”
The investigation into the drive-by shooting remains ongoing.
