Two men charged just days after Granville underworld killing

Two men — ‘friends’ of Xiao Zhao — have been charged after they were arrested at the scene of Sydney’s latest underworld shooting.

Police pictured at a crime scene on Factory Street in Granville where a person was shot. Picture: Damian Shaw

Two men have been charged after they were arrested at the scene of Sydney’s latest underworld shooting.

Xiao Zhao, 44, was shot multiple times in the shoulder and died from his wounds on Factory St at Granville on Sunday evening.

The Daily Telegraph can reveal NSW Police have since charged two men who they arrested at the scene just moments after Zhao was killed.

However, police do not allege they were involved in his killing.

Hua Chanh Loa, 31, is alleged to have thrown the two firearms – one of them a gel blaster – and magazines out the window of the Toyota Camry as he allegedly tried to leave the scene.

Two men have been charged over their alleged involvement in the latest fatal shooting to rock Sydney’s underworld. Picture: NCA NewsWire, Monique Harmer

Xiao Zhao, who was known to have links to organised crime networks, was shot dead in Granville on Sunday. Picture: NCA NewsWire, Monique Harmer

Police stopped the Toyota and arrested both Loa and another man, aged 37.

Loa and the other man both spent more than 24 hours at Granville Police Station being questioned by detectives, due largely to issues with language and access to translators on the public holiday weekend.

Loa was charged with two counts of possess unregistered unauthorised pistol in public place and refused bail.

He faced Parramatta Local Court on Wednesday, where he made no application for bail and it was formally refused.

His solicitor Mahmoud Abbas said Loa would make an application for bail when he next faces court on June 20.

The older man was charged with not stopping in a police pursuit, drive dangerously and was granted bail to appear at Parramatta Local Court on Tuesday, July 7.

Cumberland PAC Commander, Superintendent Andrew Holland, told a press conference on Monday that two men were helping with inquiries. They have now both been charged.

It is understood that in the aftermath of the shooting both men claimed to be “friends” of Zhao.

Police sources said while it was early days in the homicide investigation, it is believed Zhao was shot as part of a dispute over drugs.

Court records seen by The Daily Telegraph reveal he has previously been convicted on multiple occasions in the NSW Local Court of drug possession.