Warwick Farm shooting: Thomas Karras Vandermade charged after rapper ‘Big Kash’ shot
A feud between two western Sydney rappers spiralled into an “attempted assassination” in Warwick Farm last month, police allege. It is alleged Masi Rooc (left) shot Big Kash (right) in what police claim was a clear attempt to kill.
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A feud between two western Sydney rappers spiralled into an “attempted assassination” in Warwick Farm last month, police allege.
Sydney rapper and former bikie John Lavulo aka “Big Kash” was shot in the forearm and elbow inside his car as he and his girlfriend returned to their Lachlan St home at 9pm on August 8.
Mr Lavulo, 33, drove himself to Liverpool Hospital for surgery after the incident while his 22-year-old partner was unhurt.
After lengthy investigations from local police and State Crime Command Strike Force Raptor detectives Raptor detectives arrested 29 year-old Thomas Karras Vandermade in Blacktown Thursday afternoon.
Vandermade, also a rapper known as “Masi Rooc” has been charged with attempted murder, discharging a firearm with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and not disclosing the identity of a driver or passenger.
He faced Blacktown Local Court on Friday where he requested to appear via audio-visual link, wearing a ‘Geedup’ shirt, despite not applying for bail.
Mr Vandermade is a known member of The OC gang, and has since spread to the suburbs bordering Greater West territory in Mt Druitt.
The 29-year-old, who was recently released after serving seven years in prison, released his latest single ‘Stick and Move’ on Tuesday.
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Lavulo is still sporting a cast after undergoing surgery following the shooting. He appeared at Campbelltown Court last week facing an aggravated break and enter charge from 2018.
The 32-year-old rapper was successful in getting his reporting days cut to three a week as part of his bail conditions after explaining his injuries in court.
Lavulo wrote on Instagram that the shooting made him more “mindful” of the people he keeps around him.
He also compared himself to the fictional John Wick when describing the moment he was shot.
Mr Vandermade will next face Liverpool Local Court in November.
Criminal Groups Squad Commander Detective Superintendent Robert Critchlow said police will allege the shooting stemmed from rivalry between rap groups and alleged the violence was an assassination attempt.
“The motive really sits around interactions between rap groups and those who see themselves as rappers. There’s been some public taunting between them for some time, utilising social media we will allege has resulted in the shooting,” Det Supt Critchlow said.
“It wasn’t just a drive by shooting, [police allege] it was a clear attempt to kill this person without regard to the safety of the public around them.”