Underworld figure ‘angel of death’ Tarek Ayoub shot dead

The organised crime figure was killed in a hail of bullets in Parramatta overnight. Police said: ‘He lived by the sword, died by the sword. It’s no surprise he’s been murdered’.

Police investigate the scene of a fatal gangland shooting on Harold Street Parramatta this morning. Picture: Max Mason-Hubers / Daily Telegraph

Tarek Ayoub, known as ‘the angel of death’ in underworld circles, has been fatally shot in an “execution-style murder” in Sydney’s west this morning, with numerous gunman still on the run.

The organised crime associate, well-known to police for a long history of violence, was killed out the front of an apartment complex on Harold St, Parramatta about 3.30am in a “hail of bullets”.

Tarek Ayoub.

“So far we have established he was visiting an associate at Parramatta where he was shot down in a hail of bullets, an execution-style murder, in a carpark,” Commander of Homicide Squad Detective Superintendent Danny Doherty said.

“He’s connected to several organised crime networks. As I’ve said, he was known colloquially as the ‘angel of death’. He lived by the sword, died by the sword. It’s no surprise to the police that he’s been murdered in the way he’s been murdered.”

Superintendent Doherty said the “list of suspects will be long and the reasons why he may have been killed will also be just as long”.

Emergency services were called to the complex and performed CPR on Ayoub, but he died at the scene.

A burnt out car was found on Abeckett St in Granville, about five kilometres away.

Superintendent Doherty said the shooting was “well-organised” and “well-planned”.

“(It’s) very loud and clear that they meant to kill him and they left a large number of casing behind to show that they mean business”.

Police at Harold Street Parramatta this morning. Picture: Max Mason-Hubers / Daily Telegraph

Ayoub was formerly convicted over his role in the aftermath of the death of teenager Brayden Dillon, shot dead in his bed in 2017, and was involved in a number of other violent incident and investigations.

More than one gunman left the scene and police are appealing to anyone who may have CCTV, dashcam or mobile phone footage.

“It’s really important for us to get on the front foot with this sort of organised crime murder,” Superintendent Doherty said, adding they were working to “suppress and prevent any further shootings”.

He said police had a “good track record” with no organised crime shooting for over six months.

On Monday morning, a group of men were standing outside the apartment complex arm in arm and could be heard saying “they killed him”, The Daily Telegraph reported.

“Officers attached to Parramatta Police Area Command have established a crime scene, which will be examined by specialist forensic police,” a NSW Police statement said.