Nothing dark about plumber’s past: Police baffled by killing

An extensive probe into the background of a young tradie shot dead on his parents’ doorstep has failed to uncover any links to criminal activity. The question remains: Did the killers get the wrong man?

John Versace, 23, was shot at ten times in the driveway of a Condell Park home on Monday night,

An extensive probe into the background of a young tradie shot dead on his parents’ doorstep has failed to uncover any links to criminal activity.

John Versace, 23, was shot at ten times in the driveway of a Condell Park home on Monday night, in what police said was a brutal and targeted attack.

But NSW Police said a deep dive into the young plumber, who worked for his father’s business, had found no links or clues to anyone who would want to kill him.

“We are still seriously considering the likelihood that this victim was not the intended target … that these people got it wrong,” a senior police source said.

The Daily Telegraph has been told a well-known underworld identity lives in the same street as the Versace family, and had recently been the target of death threats.

Mr Versace had worked on a late night job plumbing when he arrived home to the Dalton Ave home, where he lived with his parents and two older sisters, at about 10.30pm.

Police said at least two people were involved in the execution of Mr Versace — the masked and hooded gunman who jumped from the back seat of the silver Toyota Corolla, and the driver who stayed in the vehicle waiting while his accomplice opened fire.

As a terrified Mr Versace backed himself up against the garage door, police said the gunman fired ten shots, with four hitting him in the chest and stomach.

“We have some very, very clear footage which has been helpful so far in showing exactly what went on, and giving us some strong leads on who these people are,” the police source said.

The getaway car, with a handgun inside it which is believed to have been the murder weapon, was found burnt out in Fairfield East later that night.

Police spent a second day combing the streets around Mr Versace’s home on Wednesday, as his family prepared for a religious service in his honour to be held on Wednesday evening.

‘FOREVER SHATTERED’

Mourners were invited to St Charbel’s Monastery at Punchbowl where a service was planned for Mr Versace, before his funeral to be held at a later date.

On social media, friends described Mr Versace as a “pure angel”.

“Rest in peace Johnny, you had a heart of gold,” a friend posted.

A relative wrote: “Our family will forever be shattered, you were taken too soon our Johnny”.

The family business was closed out of respect for the family, a staff member said on the phone.

Strike Force Harkstede, led by detectives from the NSW Police homicide squad, has been launched to investigate Mr Versace’s brutal killing.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Originally published as Nothing dark about plumber’s past: Police baffled by killing