Police at the scene ... a man was killed in a shooting at Punchbowl. Photo: Peter Rae
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A distraught mother yelled "don't die, don't die, your fiancee is coming" as relatives tried to revive her son, who died as the result of a shooting in Punchbowl overnight.
Bashir Arja, known as Barry, died in a targeted attack outside his home in Oven Street, after he was alerted to go to the front of his property about 11.15pm.
Distraught locals at the scene of the shooting. Photo: Peter Rae
Paramedics arrived to find relatives of the 28-year-old, who had recently become engaged and lived at the home with his mother, desperately trying to save his life.
Mr Arja is believed to have been shot in the head and died at the scene.
Detective Superintendent Michael McLean said the victim was known to police, but there was nothing in the initial investigation to suggest he had any gang affiliations or there were any links to recent shootings in the area.
"We know that the male was inside the house ... shortly before the incident and something certainly alerted him to go to the front of the property,’’ Superintendent McLean said.
"Upon leaving the front door of his premises, that male was shot a number of times and unfortunately fatally wounded.
"He was shot when he was entirely outside the front of his house, but certainly within the confines of the property."
Mr Arja’s mother was among a number of relatives inside the home at the time of the shooting and police were planning to interview her.
"The family’s deeply traumatised by this shooting," Superintendent McLean said.
Witnesses said said a number of rounds were shot at Mr Arja, and at least two people were seen running from the home.
A large number of grieving relatives and friends rushed to the street last night, and friends took to Facebook to pay tribute to the 28-year-old.
‘‘Allah yerhamak," said one, which in Arabic means may Allah have mercy on your soul.
‘‘May the eyes of the cowards never sleep," the friend said.
Superintendent McLean said the shooting was believed to be a targeted attack, and the public should not be worried about random shootings.
He said there was nothing to suggest the shooting was linked to another fatal shooting three weeks ago just a kilometre away.
In that shooting, Ali Eid, 38, a father of four, was doing the tiling work on his Lumeah Avenue, Punchbowl home with an electrician, Mohammed Hanouf, 34, on November 28 when two masked gunmen opened fire on them in a brazen daytime execution.
Mr Eid died from three gunshot wounds and was found by police at the back of the property.
Mr Hanouf, also a father, managed to stumble to the front of the house where he collapsed in front of shocked neighbours. He survived the shooting.
Police also do not believe the latest fatal shooting is linked to separate drive-by shootings in Sydney on Tuesday.
Several rounds of bullets were fired at a home and a car in Cherrybrook in north-west Sydney about 5.30am, police said. Meanwhile, a single gunshot was fired from a vehicle at a home in Milperra just before 2am on Tuesday, police said.
Police also are investigating a report of a shot fired during an argument in Sydney’s north on Tuesday night.
A witness said an argument occurred between a group of people in a unit block on Shadforth Street, Mosman about 10.50pm, which moved out onto the street.
A single gun shot was heard before the group fled. Police found no-one injured at the address.
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