‘No doubt’ Kirribilli shooter intended to kill man with alleged bikie links

A manhunt is continuing after a failed assassination attempt in an affluent suburb, with police suspecting the target was being watched for days.

Two men remain on the run following a “targeted and surveilled” assassination attempt of a man with alleged bikie connections in one of Sydney’s most affluent suburbs.

About 4.10pm on Wednesday, a 37-year-old man, who police say is “well known” to them, was the target of a shooting on Upper Pitt St in Kirribilli.

Police say the man, who is a “regular in that street”, was walking across the road with another individual when he was suddenly approached by an unknown man who had arrived in a white Ford Ranger dual cab.

The 37-year-old, who police say has links with organised crime and outlaw motorcycle groups, and his companion were shot at by the man and attempted to flee the scene.

The shooter, who was dressed in black with a balaclava, pursued them, according to police.

NSW Police have established three crime scenes believed to be linked to the shooting. Picture: 7 News

While the two men who fled the scene were not injured by any projectiles, one did sustain minor injuries as he ran to escape the gunman.

Detective Acting Chief Superintendent Grant Taylor said the 37-year-old declined medical treatment and was not co-operating with police.

“We are trying to determine the circumstances around why the shooting may have taken place, but we have no information from him to be able to put together some background as to what’s transpired,” Superintendent Taylor told the media on Thursday.

“We believe that Ranger may have come to that location a number of times over the preceding few days and may have been in the street for a number of hours before the shooting took place.”

Following the incident, the shooter fled west towards Parkes St.

The man refused treatment from attending paramedics.

It is believed a short time later two men were seen exiting the Ford Ranger in a carpark on Raymond Rd in Neutral Bay before setting it alight and fleeing in an unknown direction in an orange Holden Commodore sedan, which police believe had been parked on the street since October 16.

The burnt-out Ranger was shortly discovered by police and the Commodore was found burnt out on Harris St in Harris Park on Thursday morning.

Police have established crime scenes at all three locations, which they believe are linked.

“We’re urging anyone to come forward who may have seen anyone around that orange Commodore in that last 10 days,” Superintendent Taylor said.

“They may have seen some individuals drop that car in the street.”

Chief Superintendent Grant Taylor said the 37-year-old had been ‘targeted and surveilled’ prior to the shooting. Picture: 9 News

The Ranger was found alight in a carpark in Neutral Bay shortly after the shooting. Picture: 9 News

While NSW Police maintain that it is still “too early to tell exactly what has transpired”, it believes the incident is related to organised crime.

“It appears that there’s been several days of planning in this and (the 37-year-old) has obviously been targeted and surveilled in some way, shape or form over that period of time,” Superintendent Taylor said.

“There was obviously an intention to carry out the shooting, and no doubt they had an intention to kill him.

“We can say that at least two individuals were involved in this shooting – one shooter and one driver at this stage.”

Superintendent Taylor said there could be more people linked to the shooting, which was being explored through CCTV and other investigative capabilities.

Police warned no part of the city was ‘immune’ to violence involving organised crime groups. Picture: 7 News

While the exact circumstances around the incident are still not known, police suspect illicit drugs could be involved.

“These incidents occur predominantly because whenever there’s money to be made in the supply of drugs, criminal networks will have disputes with each other and fight over those markets,” Chief Superintendent Taylor said.

“It is not unusual for these sorts of individuals to refuse to speak to the police in any way, shape or form.”

The street where the shooting occurred is just blocks away from the Prime Minister’s residence at Kirribilli House and is close to a prestigious boys school.

While residents were surprised to have such a violent attack take place in the up-market suburb, Superintendent Taylor reminded the public that while organised crime continues to exist, no part of Sydney would be “immune” to such incidents.

Originally published as ‘No doubt’ Kirribilli shooter intended to kill man with alleged bikie links