‘Ambushed’: Chaos as men shot on busy street in Hurstville, Sydney, killing one

Pictures and video show chaos on a Sydney street after two men were found suffering gunshot wounds inside a Mercedes, as police hunt for a gunman.

A brazen shooting that left a man dead and another injured in Sydney’s south overnight was a planned ambush on two victims who were “clearly” targeted, police say.

An investigation is underway into the public place shooting in Hurstville, where officers found the two men with gunshot wounds inside a white Mercedes.

Officers swarmed the scene at Macmahon Street about 11pm on Saturday night after responding to reports of shots being fired in the vicinity of a carpark on the busy street.

On Sunday afternoon Detective Superintendent Anthony Cooke told media police were confident the shooting was planned.

“What I can suggest is this is clearly a targeted attack in which there has been some degree of planning,” he said.

He said it appeared the two victims, who were known to police, were “ambushed by a number of males” as they entered the Mercedes in the carpark

A man is stretchered away from the scene. Picture: Supplied

Police have appealed for witnesses to come forward. Picture: Supplied

Several rounds were fired using a handgun by “at least” one gunman, Superintendent Cook said, before the assailants fled on foot toward Queen Street.

It appeared the car then drove a short distance up Macmahon Street before stopping, he said.

The area was full of people attending a boxing match at the Hurstville Entertainment Centre, but he said there was no information to suggest the shooting was linked to the event

Superintendent Cooke said the brazen attack created “a dangerous situation” for civilians but he was “quite confident” the targets were the only people the gunman intended to hurt.

He could not confirm if the two victims were part of a gang.

“They’re known to police and we are continuing inquiries as to what might have been the motivation for the attack,” he said.

“But clearly that is part of the ongoing investigation.”

Forensic police at Macmahon Street on Sunday morning. Picture: Adam Yip

Police are scouring surrounding areas. Picture: Adam Yip

There was no information as yet linking the attack to one of the many shootings that have taken place in Sydney’s south and southwest in recent months, he said.

Police were speaking to “a number” of people involved in the shooting, including the 23-year-old who remains in hospital and family members of the victims.

NSW Police said earlier on Sunday the 23-year-old was in a stable condition.

Footage from the scene, supplied to the St George Shire Standard, shows a man lying on the footpath near the car as police crouch over him and providing first aid.

Another man pacing the pavement holds his head in apparent shock.

“Breathe, brother, breathe,” one man can be heard saying.

Separate social media footage taken from an apartment above the scene shows a stream of police cars and ambulances lining the street.

Someone just got shot near hurstville, if anyone is around the area. Be safe

Posted by Tom Dòu Zhì on Saturday, January 30, 2021

Pictures also showed the shattered back-left passenger window of the car.

The street remains a crime scene with specialist forensic officers combing the area.

Detectives from St George Police Area Command and the State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad have established Strike Force Datos to investigate the shooting.

The shooting took place not far from Hurstville Entertainment Centre, which earlier in the night was host to a boxing match between Billy Dib and Joey Baylon.

Anyone who witnessed the incident or has dashcam footage that may assist investigators is urged to contact St George Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

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