By Josefine Ganko and Amber Schultz
A 21-year-old man fatally stabbed in an apparent ambush attack as he pulled up to his house in Sydney’s west late on Thursday night has been identified, as police continue to search for his attackers.
Luke Manassa, whose family owns a large demolition company linked to controversial neurosurgeon Charlie Teo, was stabbed several times in the chest by two attackers outside his Pemulwuy home.
He then attempted to drive away in his ute, but only made it a few hundred metres, police say. Paramedics tried to revive him, but he died at the scene.
Police at the crime scene of a fatal stabbing on Driftway Drive, corner of Cherribit Street, Pemulwuy.Credit: Louise Kennerley
A manhunt is under way as police search for two males in dark clothing fleeing from the Driftway Drive home on foot soon after the stabbing.
Manassa’s family also owns property and development groups, one of which, BBSI, is jointly owned by Dr Teo’s private company, according to current records with the Australian Securities & Investments Commission.
In 2019, the BBSI Group announced the proposed development of the Blacktown Brain and Spinal Institute, including a private hospital and luxurious hotel for medical tourism.
Teo also founded TLC Wellbeing. The sole director of both companies is developer and excavator Lebnan “Leny” Manassa.
According to online interviews, 21-year-old Manassa was employed at the family business Mann Group.
“I love development and I loved seeing my dad and uncles in the industry … you make a lot of money if you do it right,” he said in a 2023 podcast.
Emergency services were called to Driftway Drive about 10.45pm on Thursday, where they found a Manassa with “significant injuries” near a silver Volkswagen Amarok ute parked by a bus stop and tennis courts.
Police forensics officers gather evidence at the Pemulwuy scene.Credit: Nine News
He was found several hundred metres from where police believe he was attacked.
Police will allege Manassa was stabbed in the driveway of the Driftway Drive home as he pulled up, and then drove his ute about 300 metres down the same road, where the car came to a stop.
“He was attacked outside the premises. He’s attempted to get away, however he’s succumbed to his injuries,” Detective Superintendent Simon Glasser said at a press conference on Friday morning.
He was not well known to police.
A neighbour told Nine News she heard “the screaming of a man for around 10 seconds, and then after that I heard a woman screaming loudly for another 10 seconds”.
Two separate crime scenes have been established. Forensic officers were seen processing evidence in and around the ute early on Friday morning. The vehicle was later towed away.
Detectives were later seen at the home on the corner Driftway Drive and Cherribit Street. Police tape was cordoning off the intersection as officers appealed for further information, including dashcam and CCTV footage, to assist in their inquiries.
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