Aussie grandpa, 81, caught on camera making the slowest getaway ever after allegedly trying to shoot a 23-year-old

By WAYNE FLOWER, SENIOR NEWS REPORTER, AUSTRALIA Published: 08:09, 14 August 2026 | Updated: 08:09, 14 August 2026 An 81-year-old man accused of attempting to shoot a 23-year-old before calmly walking away is being compared to the legendary Clint Eastwood character he played in Gran Torino. Insane footage of the elderly man making his 'escape' from the business is going viral amid comparisons to Eastwood's portrayal of Korean War veteran Walt Kowalski in the classic 2008 drama film. The alleged attack happened at BBL Auto First on Hammer Court in Hoppers Crossing, west of Melbourne, in the middle of the day on August 4. Wyndham TV broke the story after obtaining CCTV footage of the aftermath from a nearby business. The footage shows what appears to be a frail, old man slowly making his way to an old Ford Falcon station wagon before making his getaway. A younger person can be seen exiting the driver's side of the vehicle to make way for the alleged gunman before it slowly pulls away. The terrifying incident sparked a massive police operation that saw the police air wing deployed. The Ford Falcon was later spotted on nearby Industrial Avenue, where police swarmed in response. The 81-year old was captured on CCTV making his alleged 'getaway' at the speed of a tortoise  A short time later, the man surrendered to police without incident and was taken into custody. He was later charged with making threats to kill and related firearms offences. A Victoria Police spokesperson refused to provide any further details on the incident while the matter was before the courts. The man appeared in the Wyndham Magistrates' Court on August 5 and is set to return again next month. It is understood police will allege the man, from gritty Wyndham Vale, about 11km down the road, attempted to fire several times at his young victim, but the weapon failed to fire. The incident has sparked wild speculation online about why the elderly man launched the alleged attack at the auto repair shop. A social media post about the incident has attracted hundreds of comments from online sleuths. 'That shop is where I got my car done, they must have robbed the next wrong person, an 81 year old,' one person wrote. Police converged on the area after reports an elderly man was at large with a firearm  Social media exploded with theories and responses to the bizarre crime. Some compared the alleged offender to Clint Eastwood's Walt Kowalski from Gran Torino  'Check out there reviews dodgy as. It was only a matter of time.' They were allegations vehemently denied by BBL Auto First when contacted by Daily Mail on Friday.  'We can't discuss that unfortunately, but I've seen all the comments and they are unfounded,' a spokesperson said.  'There was a lot more to that but we're not to discuss it.' While no-one was physically injured in the alleged attack, the incident had left a toll.  'Psychologically yes, but physically no,' she said.  In Gran Torino, Eastwood's character catches a teenager trying to steal his prized 1972 Ford Gran Torino as an initiation rite and befriends him. When a gang returns to the teen's house to punish him for the failed theft, a furious Eastwood draws his M1 rifle and forces the gang off his property at gunpoint - making him a local hero.  Draped in velvet, 89-year old Domenico Natale made headlines in 2019 after he hunted down and tried to kill a sex worker He was jailed for four-and-a-half years The latest alleged incident it is not the first time an elderly man has made the news for pulling a gun on the streets of Melbourne.  In 2019, 89-year old Domenico Natale was jailed for four-and-a-half years after he hunted down and tried to kill a sex worker.  Natale pleaded guilty to charges of stalking, reckless conduct endangering life, making a threat to kill and using an unregistered longarm. The woman was seen ducking and running as the brick wall behind her exploded from the blast just above her head. A second shot struck near the brothel’s entrance as the terrified woman fled for her life. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.