Police have charged an alleged getaway driver after the shooting death of a man outside a family home in western Sydney in what they have labelled a “targeted attack”.
Emergency services found a 31-year-old man in Canley Heights on Sunday night after reports of shots being fired just before 7pm. Paramedics treated him for gunshot wounds but he died at the scene.
Emergency services were called a short time later to an abandoned burning white Audi in the neighbouring suburb of Wakeley and police believe the incidents are linked.
Police said they believe the victim was shot in his car, before attempting to escape on foot.
They allege that the assailant approached the driver’s side window and fired a number of shots into the window. The victim ran a short distance before succumbing to his injuries, police said.
Det Supt Daniel Doherty said the man was shot “outside a family residence” and that police were alleging the shooting was related to organised crime.
He said police had identified a second vehicle involved, a grey Jeep Cherokee.
“It’s a very sad, tragic situation … it’s terrible for his family,” Doherty said.
A 33-year-old man was arrested on Monday morning after investigations. He was taken to Fairfield police station where he was charged with accessory after the fact to murder and driver not disclosing the identity of driver/passenger as required. He was refused bail to appear in Parramatta local court on Tuesday.
Police will allege in court the man was driving one of the getaway cars used in the fatal shooting.
Det Acting Supt Jason Pietruszka said investigators believed this was a “targeted attack” and the incident had sparked a “significant investigation”.
“I think it’s important to say from the outset that we believe this to be a targeted attack. This is not a random shooting,” he said.
“The New South Wales police have put significant resources into the seriousness that we’re taking this investigation.”
Homicide detectives are continuing their investigation and anyone with information was urged to come forward.
