'I heard help, help': four men on the run after shooting in Sydney's west
Four men who chased and shot another man in the torso and legs in Sydney's west on Monday night remain on the run.
Emergency services were called to Garrong Road, Lakemba, just after 8.15pm following reports a man had been injured.
Police are speaking to neighbours, hoping to gain insight into Monday night's shooting. Credit: Kate Geraghty
They found a 29-year-old man suffering gunshot wounds to the torso and the leg. He was taken to hospital in a serious condition and underwent surgery. His injuries are not considered life-threatening.
Commander of Campsie Police Area Command Acting Superintendent Dennis O'Donohue said the shooting was believed to be targeted and the man had been visiting another home on the road when he was attacked.
"It appears that, for whatever reason, our victim was in Garrong Road at Lakemba when he was set upon, or chased, by these other four males and then set upon in a residence," he said.
"It is of great concern to us that this man has been attacked inside the private residence of innocent members of our community."
"For that reason, we are taking this matter very seriously. "
The 29-year-old victim is "associated with known organised crime networks", he added.
Police say they do not yet know why the man was in the area but are hoping to gain more information when they speak with him later in the day.
The four men fled in a white SUV following the incident and police are urging anyone with information to come forward.
"At this early stage, our priority is to determine what happened in Lakemba last night and who was involved," he said.
Neighbour Joseph Tokic said he was making dinner on Monday night when he heard two gunshots, but thought they were fireworks.
Neighbour Joseph Tokic, 48, was making dinner when he heard gunshots and a man screaming for help last night on Gurrong Road in Lakemba. Credit:Kate Geraghty
A few minutes later, he said he heard a man calling for help and saying he'd been shot. Moments later, an ambulance was on the scene.
"I heard, 'help, help, help,' I didn't know who it was."
Mr Tokic is no stranger to gunshots. Thirty-one years ago he was shot in the throat during a protest on November 27, on Yugoslav National Day.
Monday night's shooting is the latest in a string of unrelated incidents in the past week. On Saturday, Fares Abounader, 39, was returning to his home on Wall Avenue, in Panania, shortly before midnight when an unidentified assailant sprang from the darkness and fired several shots.
He died at the scene.
Mr Abounader was a former ally of former Comanchero leader Mick Hawi and faced jail time over an airport brawl between rival bikies in 2009 which led to the death of Hells Angel member Anthony Zervas.
Hawi was shot dead outside a gym in Rockdale in 2018. Two men are facing trial for the alleged murder.
In a separate incident, local businessman and father Mohammed Saab was also shot in the torso and leg as he left his Turella home for work at 7am on August 26. The 37-year-old was taken to hospital in a stable condition.
Investigations into the Lakemba shooting continue and anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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