A police officer guards the Nitro Ink tattoo parlor after last week's shooting. Credit:Joe Armao

A Victoria versus NSW Comanchero bikie club war may be behind the near-execution of a high ranking gang member in the midst of getting a tattoo at a Melbourne parlour last week.

Comanchero Robert Ale was shot at more than six times on Thursday, the same day former national president Mahmoud “Mick” Hawi was farewelled after he was shot dead in Sydney on February 15.

Ale, however, is likely to survive the attack, which occurred as he was getting a tattoo at Nitro Ink in Hampton Park in broad daylight. At least one bullet went through the wall of the Fordholm Road parlour and into a real estate agency next door, narrowly missing staff.