Arrest over fatal shooting of gangland figure Ferenc ‘David’ Stemler

Homicide Squad detectives have arrested a man over the murder of crime figure Ferenc ‘David’ Stemler, who was shot dead in a hail of bullets in Sydney’s southwest.

Police have arrested a man over the fatal shooting of Ferenc “David” Stemler in Sydney’s southwest last year.

The 30-year-old was arrested by detectives at Silverwater Correctional Centre on Thursday and taken to Burwood Police Station where he is expected to be charged with murder.

Stemler, 28, was shot dead in a hail of bullets as he met with two men outside his rental home in the southwest suburb of Canterbury just after 2am on July 27.

A photo taken by The Daily Telegraph at the time captured Mr Semler’s heavily-tattooed body lying on the road as two primary school children walked past on their way to school.

He was the fifth person to be shot on a Sydney street in as many days, and was gunned down just hours after well-known lawyer Mahmoud Abbas was shot in the leg and torso outside his home in Greenacre.

Ferenc “David” Stemler was shot dead in Canterbury in 2023.

This photo of schoolkids looking on as Stemler’s dead body lay on the streets shocked the community at the time. Picture: NCA NewsWire

Local police, with assistance from State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad, commenced inquiries before the matter was taken carriage of by Task Force Magnus under Strike Force Murrell.

To date, a man and woman have been charged and remain before the courts.

A 30-year-old man was arrested by detectives at a Silverwater correctional centre where he is expected to be charged with murder. Picture: NSW Police

The chilling final moments of Stemler were captured on CCTV and released by NSW Police in an appeal earlier this week in the hopes it would encourage more witnesses to come forward with information.

CCTV depicts two cars arriving at the Casula Central carpark to lay in wait for the planned shooting. Picture: NSW Police

CCTV then captures the moment Mr Stemler approaches the Commodore outside his address on Broughton Street in Canterbury before he is fatally shot. Picture: NSW Police

Police will allege in court the man was in the white Commodore at the time Stemler approached it and was fatally shot.

Inquiries under Strike Force Murrell continue.

Do you have a story for The Daily Telegraph? Email [e-mail]