Was driveway murder payback for assassination of standover man in shopping centre?
The 29-year-old man who was shot dead on a south western Sydney driveway on Tuesday morning was a suspect in the gangland hit of Walid 'Wally' Ahmad at a Bankstown shopping centre earlier this year.
On Tuesday morning, Hamad Assaad was shot "multiple times" in the driveway of his home by two men. His mother was inside the property at the time. Police said she was understandably "hysterical".
Assaad was known to police and was a suspect in the "execution style" murder of Ahmad on April 29.
Standover man Ahmad, 40, was killed in a spray of bullets in what was described as a “well-planned ambush".
He was known for his criminal activities and was himself the subject of a murder probe into a fatal gunfight earlier in April, outside his smash repair business in Condell Park.
Authorities are looking for at least three men who fled the victim's home on Sturt Avenue, Georges Hall in a black Audi sedan.
Officers believe the gunmen were loitering in the area for several minutes before the targeted shooting.
The 29-year-old victim, who was well known to police, was reportedly shot in the head.
Emergency services were called to Sturt Avenue, Georges Hall at 9.20am following reports of shots fired.
Officers found the man with multiple gunshot wounds. His body was covered with a white sheet and a large quantity of blood could be seen on the driveway.
NSW Ambulance paramedics tried to keep the Assaad alive for 30 minutes but he died at the scene.
There are reports the sister of the victim broke down trying to get access to her brother.
The woman begged police at the scene to let her in, according to the Daily Telegraph
She was told she couldn't enter after begging, "Please, he’s my brother".
There are reports a man was also at the scene asking to enter saying he was the victim's brother.
Raj Goundar, an employee of nearby Pool and Spa Warehouse told 7 News, "It’s shocking that it happened right next to the shopping centre. It's normally really quiet".
Another employee of Pool and Spa Warehouse called Robert told reporters it sounded like more than one gun was used in the shooting.
Neighbours said the man moved into the home about six months ago with a wife and young children, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.
A hairdresser around the corner from the scene, said she heard the gun shots.
"It was pretty frightening," Rose told 7 News.
A crime scene has been established.
Police are urging anyone with information in relation to this incident to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
