Son's desperate act to save dad in Sydney shooting as shocking theory emerges
A witness has relayed the tragic moment a son tried to save his dad who was shot dead right next to him, with police now investigating what caused the "targeted" attack.
Western Sydney businessman Taha Sabbagh was heading to his usual gym with his 12-year-old son on Thursday when tragedy struck in broad daylight, according to NSW Police. Before the man was even able to get out of his black SUV, assassins pulled up in a Mazda car and shot the 40-year-old multiple times in the chest. His son in the passenger seat watched on in horror.
A witness working nearby the martial arts gym on Carlingford Street in Sefton, in the city's west, said Mr Sabbagh's son desperately called for help, screaming "help me, help me, my dad’s been shot," the Daily Telegraph reported.
According to the publication, they took the rattled boy into their workshop and comforted him until police arrived at the scene just after 6.30am.
Despite their best efforts, paramedics were not able to revive the man suffering gunshot wounds, with the State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad commencing investigations into the circumstances of the incident.
'Execution style' murder could have been case of mistaken identity
The death of the Greenacre man has been identified as a "targeted" incident, however police are investigating whether it could have been a case of mistaken identity.
While Mr Sabbagh was associated with people involved in organised crime, he is "relatively not well known to police" and the case is for now being treated as an "isolated incident," Homicide Squad Commander Danny Doherty said on Thursday in a press conference.
"We believe this is a targeted attack, it's not random. The execution style - it bears the hallmarks of an organised crime murder," he continued.
He added that the last shooting related to Sydney's underworld was six months ago.
While a theory of mistaken identify is being investigated, police are looking at all possible avenues and motives.
Boy left 'traumatised' by cold blooded shooting
Detective Superintendent Doherty slammed the murder an "egregious, violent act".
"These people are callous and brazen," he said. "They have no regard for human life knowing there was a 12-year-old boy in the car and still carrying out the execution in front of him. It's very traumatising for him and his family," he said.
According to a Facebook group for Sydney's Islamic community which requested prayers for the victim, Mr Sabbagh was "a loving son, brother, father, husband" and was "loved by many".
The father's last post on Instagram was a video of his son boxing at the Elite Fight Force gym.
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It was suggested in the press conference by Detective Superintendent Doherty that a Mazda 3 found in a nearby suburb of Birrong could be the vehicle used in the shooting, of which police suspect two people were involved.
Anyone with information is urged to come forward to police.
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