Johann Ofner
Johann Ofner
Johann Ofner (1988-January 23, 2017) was a stunt performer and aspiring actor from Gold Coast, Australia. He had a girlfriend, Kati Garnett and a young daughter. Friends remember Johann as a talented athlete and a devoted father. [-1]
Career and Education
Johann Ofner worked as a stunt performer for Stunt Book Australia. He was also reportedly soon to be on the Nine Network's reality TV show Australian Ninja Warrior, which is based off American Ninja Warrior. Johann previously worked as a carpenter at Skypanel and East Coast Relocatable homes. He attended Palm Beach Currumbin High School. [16]
Death
On January 23, 2017 died after being hit in the chest by a blank while filming a music video for the Multi Platinum ARIA Award-winning rap group Bliss n Eso. The shooting happened at around 2 p.m in the basement of the Brisbane bar, Brooklyn Standard. Police and paramedics were immediately called, but Johann died on scene. [22]
Last night, it emerged that Mr Ofner had posted a video to his Instagram account from the set just hours before he died.
The video shows three guns – including a sawn-off shotgun – along with money, gambling chips and a fake knife.
The video, captioned “gun scene for Bliss n Eso”, at one stage refers to “faulty props”.
Police are investigating the kind of ammunition used in the accident and how it could have happened.
It’s understood the prop gun that was fired was a double-barrel shotgun, but Detective Inspector Tom Armitt said several firearms were in the bar when they arrived. “A scene was being conducted in which the actors were using firearms,” he said. “Something has caused those injuries to that man’s chest, but how that occurred is now part of our investigation.” Workplace Health and Saf ety officers are also investi gating. [22]
A close friend of Mr Ofner said the death was “an absolute tragedy”.
“We were all in Fiji recently. He has a young daught er and a lovely girlfriend,” he said. Friends took to Mr Ofner’s Instagram account to pay their respects. “I’m so sorry to hear the news – an amazing person ta ken on his way to even more greatness,” Billy Simmonds said. “RIP. Gone too soon. Thinking of your partner and your little girl during this horrific time,” Brooke Seppi said. [22]
Construction worker Blake Shaw said that he was on the floor above the bar when he heard loud bangs, one after the other.
“There were, like, three gunshots and then in about five minutes all the cops came,” he said.
Mr Shaw said that, from a hole in the floor where he worked, he could see money strewn around the bar below him and the man’s torso covered in blood.
Bliss N Eso confirmed the death occurred during the filming of their music clip.
But the hip hop group said they were not onsite.
“The video production crew and our team are currently working with the police in their investigation and we are unable to provide further comment at this time,” they said in a statement.
[22].