Former bikie boss Mahmoud ‘Mick’ Hawi shot dead at Fitness First gym in Rockdale
DETECTIVES will now dive into slain bikie Mahmoud “Mick” Hawi’s remaining links to the Comanchero club to try to catch the balaclava-clad hitman who assassinated him after a morning gym session today. Updated video from CCTV shows two figures in dark clothes running near the scene.
NSW
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FORMER bikie boss Mahmoud “Mick” Hawi has been shot dead in the carpark of a Fitness First gym in Sydney’s south.
Detectives will now dive into the slain 37-year-old bikie’s remaining links to the Comanchero to try and catch the balaclava-clad hitman who assassinated him after a morning gym session today.
UPDATE: SLAIN BIKIE BOSS HAWI HAD HEATED EXCHANGE WITH RIVAL JUST WEEKS AGO
NSW Police Force’s Assistant Commissioner Mal Lanyon said the attacker were on foot when they shot Hawi through the driver’s side of his borrowed, or hired, black Mercedes 4WD, as it sat outside the door of the Rockdale Fitness First just after 12pm.
READ MORE: Mourners gather to lay slain bikie boss Mick Hawi to rest
The former president of Comanchero motorcycle gang, who was jailed in 2012 for his role in the infamous Sydney Airport brawl in which his gang stabbed and bludgeoned rival bikie Anthony Zervas to death in the domestic departures hall, was on life support in St Georges Hospial but police have since confirmed he died this afternoon.
MICK HAWI: A SLAIN BIKIE THUG WHO LIVED BY THE SWORD
Hawi was originally found guilty of murder for his part in the airport brawl, but his conviction was overturned on appeal and he plead guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter.
It is believed Hawi suffered multiple heart attacks after being shot and police believe the black-clad gunmen fled in a grey Mercedes station wagon, possibly with the help of a getaway driver, and burnt it out in the neighbouring suburb of Kogarah.
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“We have had information that a male wearing all black clothing and a balaclava was seen to commit the offence,” assistant commissioner Lanyon said.
“There is little doubt that shots were fired from the driver’s side of the vehicle.
“We are exploring whether that vehicle is (related) to the shooting of Mr Hawi.
“There may well have been a second person in that vehicle.”
Assistant Commissioner Lanyon said the state’s “best detectives” from two State Crime Command units — the homicide and criminal groups squads — and St George Local Area Command were on the case.
But they will start by looking at Hawi’s well established links to organised crime and the Comanchero outlaw bikie gang which he once led.
“Obviously he has a history with that group and that’s something we will explore,” Assistant Commissioner Lanyon said.
“This is a serious brutal and callous attack and one that NSW Police will not stand for.”
Police are also on high-alert for fear of reprisal attacks for Hawi’s murder.
“One of the things that we will focus on ... Is ensuring we put sufficient resources out there to prevent any retribution that may occur as a result of his shooting,” he said
Rather than use one of the many car spaces in the gym’s parking lot, Hawi’s vehicle was parked at the door of the gym, where it is believed he left it during his Daily gym session.
It has been reported by Channel 7 that CCTV captured two black-clad men running from the scene after the shooting.
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Forensic officers remain on the scene, focusing mainly on the driver’s side of the black Mercedes 4WD, under the wheels of the passenger side and the entrance to the gym directly adjacent to the car.
Particular time and attention was also placed on photographing an unknown piece of evidence about five metres in front of the vehicle.
A number of shell casings were visible alongside up to 14 forensics markers scattered around the car and beside the entry point.
A gym bag lay strewn against the front wheel on the driver’s side with a number of other items scattered nearby.
A towel also laid across the bonnet of the 4WD but it is unknown whether it belonged to the former bikie boss or another gym member who came to his aid.
Burnt-out car found near scene
Police believe a car destroyed by fire only a kilometre from the shooting is linked. Firefighters were called to Chandler St, Kogarah, at 12.10pm.
A NSW Fire and Rescue spokeswoman said fire also damaged a nearby garage.
Police are maintaining a strong presence outside St George Hospital Emergency with numerous public order and riot officers in attendance.
Police were stopping every car entering the emergency carpark and speaking with the driver.
A group of six Public Order and Riot Squad officers are guarding the emergency ambulance bay as family and friends continue to arrive at the hospital where Hawi is on life support.
A teenage boy who claimed he was Hawi’s son turned up to the scene just after 3pm.
The distraught young man was comforted by friends as he paced the scene.
“Do you know who that is? It’s my dad,” he told reporters before getting in a car with his girlfriend and her mother and leaving.
About 3.15pm police officers were seen escorting two young men away from the hospital entrance.
They both appeared upset as police talked to them for several minutes near the entrance to the emergency carpark for several minutes.
Police were on high-alert outside the hospital even stopping a motorcyclist in high-vis construction work clothes who happened to be passing the hospital.
The rider was subjected to a pat down and a bag search with officers conducting a detailed inspection of his motorbike.
Officers later issued the rider with a defect notice forcing the rider to push his motorbike away from the scene.
The rider, who was sporting a one per cent tattoo a common tattoo among outlaw motorcycle gangs, shook hands and spoke to four other men who later entered the hospital.
Witness heard ‘four bangs’
Owner of IYN Physiotherapy Reshan Mutukrishna said he heard at least “four bangs” just after 12pm but didn’t take any notice as the gymgoers “liked to get attention”.
“We heard a loud bang, bangs repetitively — I just thought it was someone dropping the weights in the gym as you would expect,” he said.
“Then I heard a lot of commotion, a lot of screaming, a lot of shouting but I didn’t take too much notice I thought maybe someone had fallen in the gym.”
The physiotherapist went outside and saw a crowd had already gathered to attend to the wounded man with emergency services arriving and the gym “going into lockdown”.
Mr Mutukrishna said “Mick” was a regular at the gym and that his colleague had treated him previously, but that he didn’t know him personally.
“It’s shocking. It’s sad, I guess, but it’s not surprising,” he said.
Hawi jailed over airport brawl
Hawi was released from prison in 2015 after being imprisoned in 2012 for his role in the Sydney Airport brawl in which rival bikie Anthony Zervas was beaten to death in the domestic departures hall.
He was released after a board approved his parole based on his “satisfactory prison performance”.
Conditions of his bail included him not associating with outlaw motorcycle gangs, or frequenting bikie-owned premises.
He was also not to possess a firearm or use illegal drugs.
Hawi began his relationship with his wife, Carolina Gonzales, in 1995 while they were both still at school. In 2002 they were married and have two sons together.
Their second son was born shortly after Hawi was arrested for murder and remanded in custody.
Prior to his incarceration they were living together at their home at Bexley.
A Fitness First spokesman said: “Fitness First is aware that a shooting occurred in the car park outside its Rockdale gym this morning, Thursday 15 February. We are fully complying with the police investigation and as a result we have closed this facility until further notice. Due to the nature of the ongoing investigation we are unable to provide further details at this time. Our priority is ensuring our staff and members are provided the right support at this time.”