Marrickville shooting victim ‘dived’ to save brother, shooter had ‘two guns’

One victim in Friday’s Marrickville shooting ‘dived’ in front of the gunman as he brandished two guns. It comes as the owner of the salon was allegedly bashed by the victim’s relative after the shooting.

Witnesses have told police one of the men shot in Marrickville on Friday dived in front of a gunman’s bullet to save his relative who was shot at while getting his hair cut.

Those who saw the harrowing attack at Adel’s Salon on Marrickville Rd also say they saw the gunman storm into the store brandishing two guns before letting a volley of bullets fly.

The two men who narrowly survived the broad daylight shooting are believed to have links to a bikie gang, sources said, but it was unclear how they are linked to the underworld feud.

The details emerged painting a picture of the horrifying scenes that saw locals dodge bullets, leaving a suburban business a bloody mess as fears grow Sydney’s underworld war is set to ignite once again.

“He jumped out of the car with two guns, black mask, fired from outside the store then walked in and shot the guy as he was getting his hair cut,” a witness, who did not want to be named, said.

Police sweep the area for evidence on Friday. Picture: John Appleyard

One of the victims as they were rushed to hospital by paramedics. Picture: TNV

“Then his brother who was in the shop too jumped in front of (the shooter) to protect him and got shot in the chest.

“It almost hit the guy cutting his hair. It was incredible.”

It can also be revealed police are now investigating an assault on the owners of the salon about 3pm on Friday, just an hour after the shooting, near Marrickville police station.

Police leaving the salon on Saturday. Picture: Julian Andrews

Sources said the owners, who aren’t accused of any wrongdoing or of having links to bikies, were on their way to make a statement regarding the incident when they were allegedly bashed by relatives of the two victims, who suspected they set the shooting up.

A local business owner said despite being shot, one of the heavily tattooed men was “spitting with rage” as he was being carted into the back of an ambulance.

Two men – aged 20 and 33 – remained in hospital on Sunday after sustaining bullet wounds to their buttocks and chest about 1.50pm Friday on Marrickville Rd.

One underworld source told The Sunday Telegraph if two guns were used by the shooter it showed the gunman may not have intended to kill the two men.

“Either that or he is an amateur,” they said.

It comes as police investigate an alleged assault on the owners of the salon just an hour after they were almost shot. Picture: Julian Andrews

“Think about it, it’s harder to aim properly at your target if you have one in each hand.”

The scene was just 50m from the Marrickville police station, with witnesses telling detectives they heard about five shots before seeing the gunman speeding away in a silver car.

Footage showed the frantic moments witnesses tried to save the lives of the two men, with one of them lying shirtless on the floor before a police officer arrived to render first aid.

On Saturday detectives could be seen canvassing local businesses with blood still visible on the salon’s walls.

Police are investigating whether the brazen shooting is linked to last week’s hit on underworld heavyweight Alen Moradian in Bondi Junction.

Police spent Saturday combing local businesses and the salon on Marrickville Rd for CCTV footage. Picture: Julian Andrews

Moradian’s death was the 21st killing since the gangland war began in 2020 and sent shockwaves among the city’s criminal milieu with rumblings that his death would be avenged.

Tight-lipped officers on Friday would not confirm what links the two victims had to organised crime, or Moradian, beyond the fact that they were known to police.

Both men remain in hospital.

Those who witnessed the shooting said those in the store were lucky not to be hit.

“It is very brazen, and that’s why we believe it’s obviously a targeted attack,” Superintendent Despa Fitzgerald told reporters.

“It’s not random and it was fortunate that no other members of the public were involved. It is a concern. They obviously don’t care where they do it.”

Officers are still looking for a third getaway car, a white Toyota Camry the gunman was seen jumping into after two getaway cars were torched in the nearby suburbs of Dulwich Hill and Sydenham.

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