Former Comancheros boss Mahmoud Hawi dead after shot outside gym

Former bikie boss Mahmoud “Mick” Hawi has died after being shot in the face in broad daylight outside a Sydney gym.

Mahmoud “Mick” Hawi has reportedly been shot outside a Fitness First gym.

Police have linked the car park shooting of former Comanchero boss Mahmoud ‘Mick’ Hawi this afternoon to a car fire which broke in Sydney’s south shortly after his attack.

Mr Hawi was shot several times outside the Fitness First gymnasium in Rockdale at 12.10pm today and has since died from his injuries at St George Hospital, police have confirmed.

A man has died in hospital following a shooting at #Rockdale earlier today. https://t.co/p8zzCwfC2n

— NSW Police (@nswpolice) February 15, 2018

State Crime Command Commander, assistant commissioner Mal Lanyon said Mr Hawi was shot while inside his car.

The black Mercedes Benz SUV the former bikie boss had been driving was a leased vehicle.

After firing several shots through Mr Hawi’s car, the assailant fled the scene in what police believe may have been a grey Mercedes Benz station wagon.

The same car was later found burning on the side of Chandler Street in Rockdale.

Ass Comm Lanyon said witnesses claimed the gunman wearing dark clothing and a balaclava.

Police are urging anyone who saw the gunman or his getaway car outside of the Rockdale Fitness First to come forward.

“I would also appeal to any person who may have dash cam footage or CCTV that vicinity to contact us,” he said.

Paramedics and police were called to West Botany Road in Rockdale just after midday, following reports that a man had been shot at several times in the gymnasium car park.

Hawi had suffered severe facial injuries and went into cardiac arrest.

Photographs have emerged on social media showing a black Mercedes Benz SUV peppered with bullet holes from this afternoon’s drive by shooting.

Several windows in the car have been completely shattered, with the front left side window with at least four bullet holes.

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A black Mercedes 4WD sits in the car park outside Fitness First in Rockdale after a man was shot.

Police earlier told The Australian that Mr Hawi was in a critical condition in St George Hospital and was “unlikely to survive”.

A spokeswoman for St George Hospital would not comment on Mr Hawi’s condition, but police said his head injuries are so severe that he is “unlikely to survive” the shooting.

Members of the public performed CPR on Mr Hawi as emergency crews rushed to the scene.

Paramedics arrived 6 minutes after the first call and raced him to St George Hospital for emergency treatment.

NSW Police said the gunman appeared to have fled in a vehicle which was last seen on nearby Lindsay Street.

“A crime scene has been established and investigations are continuing,” police said in a statement.

NSW Police have cordoned off the carpark in front of the gym’s entrance where a black four-wheel drive with apparent bullet holes is parked. The Seven Network reports the victim was ambushed as he got out of the car and was shot at close range.

Rockdale: A man has been rushed to hospital after being shot in Sydney's south. Emergency services responded to reports a man had been shot at West Botany St near Fitness First gym just after midday. Report on 7 News at 6pm. https://t.co/pdMrmgNU5l #Rockdale #7News pic.twitter.com/oYm0h28bI0

— 7 News Sydney (@7NewsSydney) February 15, 2018

A witness in the gym told 9 News he heard “four or five bangs” which sounded like firecrackers.

Paramedics and witnesses pictured on scene at Rockdale Fitness First after former bikie boss Mahmoud ‘Mick’ Hawi was shot in the car park. Picture: Supplied

“Blood all over the place,” he said.

The former Comanchero boss was sentenced to at least three and a half years imprisonment after pleading guilty to manslaughter following the death of bikie rival, Anthony Zervas in 2009.

The 29 year old bikie died after he was viciously stabbed with a pair of scissors in Sydney Airport during a brawl between the Hells Angels and Comancheros outlaw motorcycle gangs.

Mr Zervas was also beaten with a steel bollard before his head was stomped on during the public brawl.

A Sydney court found Mr Hawi had punched Hells Angels NSW president Derek Wainohu, after spotting him on a flight from Melbourne to Sydney.

Witnesses told police they saw Mr Hawi beating Mr Zervas with a bollard during the fight.

Mr Hawi was released from jail in 2015 with 22 strict parole conditions.

The conditions included a ban on firearm possession as well as any association with outlaw motorcycle gang members.

He was released to an address in regional NSW.

With AAP