NSW Police release CCTV into failed carpark assassination in Campsie
Detectives have released CCTV footage of the moment a gunman fires a salvo of shots at two men in a failed carpark assassination in Sydney’s southwest.
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Detectives have released CCTV footage of two men they believe can assist with inquiries in connection with a failed carpark assassination in Sydney’s southwest last year.
Vailena Koloamatangi, 27, was left fighting for life in hospital after at least one gunman opened fire on him and Ahmad Ezai, in the underground carpark of an apartment block on Canterbury Rd shortly after 9.20pm on September 12.
Officers were told Koloamatangi had been in his vehicle in the carpark when he was approached by an unknown man, who fired two guns at him up to 12 times before fleeing the scene in a white Mercedes.
Police sources said Mr Ezai managed to run from the car as the shots began to ring out and luckily avoided injury.
Koloamatangi has since made a full recovery.
The gunman was described as being of African appearance, over 200cm tall and wearing all black with a face covering.
Three burnt-out stolen cars, including a Mercedes, were found on fire in the nearby suburbs of Kingsgrove, Berala and Birrong a short time later.
In the days following another two stolen burnt-out cars were found in Agnes Banks and West Pennant Hills.
A resident of the apartment complex said he was watching a movie with his partner when he heard a loud bang from the underground car park.
“I heard a bang but my missus said she heard three,” he said at the time.
“It was a different sound, a basement noise. I didn’t think it would be a shooting.
“I saw fire crews and just thought it was a little fire.”
The man said police were blocking entrances to the B2 and B1 underground car parks where blood was scattered.
“I think it happened on B1. There was blood there last night.
“It’s normal these days (shootings) but I didn’t think it would happen there, it’s weird.”
Local police commenced inquiries before the matter was taken carriage of by State Crime Command’s Drug & Firearms Squad under Strike Force Faux.
Inquiries revealed two males wearing balaclavas were seen fleeing this final car and crossing Currawong Reserve to Timberline Avenue.
Investigations under Strike Force Faux established all five burnt-out cars were used as getaway cars in the shooting and subsequent burning out of the vehicles, by up to seven people.
As inquiries continue, police have released CCTV of the incident and white Mercedes fleeing the scene, as well as a construction company truck being used as part of the staging of the vehicles with necessary jerry cans on September 9 last year in Greystanes.
It was reported at the time that Koloamatangi had previously been shot in 2020 while sitting in a Toyota Camry with an old school friend.
“Regardless of who the victim is, these public acts of violence are unacceptable,” Detective Inspector Allcroft said.
“I’d like to let the community know that police will continue to target anyone who shows a blatant disregard for community safety.”
Police sources at the time said they were investigating links between last year’s shooting and the earlier failed assassination attempt on Koloamatangi.
In that earlier incident, Koloamatangi and Hasan Goktas were sitting in a car when two men came up to the car and opened fire, wounding both men.
Goktas was previously targeted in 2012 when he was shot in the stomach in what police believed was part of an ongoing feud between his family and that of Bassam Hamzy, founder of the Brothers for Life gang.
Koloamatangi attended Granville Boys High School, where relatives of both Goktas and the Hamzys went.
The Daily Telegraph does not suggest Goktas, Ezai or Koloamatangi are involved in underworld activities.
Anyone with information about the incident or the identity of the men shown in the CCTV are urged to contact police.
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Originally published as NSW Police release CCTV into failed carpark assassination in Campsie
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