Hitmen used second getaway car after killing The Punisher, police say

The hitmen who executed Sam “The Punisher” Abdulrahim used a second car to make their escape, with police probing a burnt-out Ford Ranger dumped in Westmeadows in Melbourne’s northwest.

The gunmen who shot dead underworld figure Sam “The Punisher” Abdulrahim used a second getaway car after the attack, detectives say.

Abdulrahim was shot dead about 10.30am on Tuesday in the car park of the Quest Hotel on High St in Preston.

His killers were seen fleeing the area in a white Porsche SUV, which was found ablaze a short time later on Alexandra St in Reservoir.

The model may have been a Porsche Macan.

Police say the assailants then fled in a grey Ford Ranger ute, which was seen travelling to Western Ave in Westmeadows.

The killers then set that car alight.

“Now we’re working on the belief that that is involved, given the timing and location,” Detective Inspector Dean Thomas of the Homicide Squad told Nova FM on Wednesday morning.

Sam ‘The Punisher’ Abdulrahim was shot dead on Tuesday. Picture: Instagram

Police believe a second vehicle, found torched in Westmeadows, is linked to the killing. Picture: Regan Hodge

The vehicle was completely destroyed. Picture: Regan Hodge

Metal bars, possibly used for scaffolding, was in the tub. Picture: Regan Hodge

The burnt-out Ranger was discarded in between two large paddocks near the Tullamarine Freeway.

It was completely destroyed with only the rear make and model badges recognisable.

The entire inside of the Ford, including the steering wheel and seats, were completely incinerated.

A bunch of metal, possibly used for scaffolding, a couple of plastic chairs and a brown leather belt remained in the tub.

There were no number plates on the vehicle on Wednesday.

Only a small bit of police tape remained attached to the door.

The killers fled Preston in a Porsche which was found burnt out in Reservoir. Picture: Tony Gough

Detectives at the scene in Reservoir. Picture: Tony Gough

Police outside the Quest Hotel in Preston on Tuesday. Picture: Josie Hayden

The blaze burnt a small patch of grass on the side of the road but failed to spread further.

If linked to Abdulrahim’s murder, it appears as though the offenders had done their homework.

It was a prime location to torch the Ranger and escape into a third possible vehicle as there are almost no other vehicles or buildings in sight.

There are no cameras within a few hundreds metres, and only rubbish trucks use this end of Western Ave to access the nearby waste centre.

A bullet shell lies on High St in Preston near the spot where Abdulrahim was killed. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Grieving family and friends at the site where Abdulrahim was killed. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Detective Inspector Thomas said he hoped Abdulrahim’s distressed family and friends would work with police to help track down his killers.

“They’ve gone through a traumatic incident yesterday,” he told Nova FM.

“We will continue to speak to them as we move forward. We’ve got to give them that space so that they can grieve and do what they have to do as a family.

“But we certainly will be continuing to speak with them as we move forward.”

A Victoria Police spokeswoman said the Ford Ranger had a canopy and a distinctive sticker of bull horns on the rear window.

Homicide detectives called for anyone who may have seen either vehicle or who has CCTV of them to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit crimestoppersvic.com.au.