By Olivia Ireland and Jenny Noyes
A man who was shot dead while sitting in his car on a suburban street in Sydney’s west has been identified as 24-year-old Marvin Oraiha, who police suspect has links to organised crime.
NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb described the shooting in Hertfordshire Street, Elizabeth Hills, on Monday afternoon as “very brazen”. Police are investigating whether two burnt-out cars found in nearby suburbs are linked to the shooting.
Police were called about 4pm and arrived to find Oraiha in the car on his own street with multiple gunshot wounds. First responders tried to revive him, but he died at the scene.
A resident in the street said he was sitting down to a late lunch when he heard “boom, boom, boom”. He ran to the window and saw a white car speeding away.
Officers from Liverpool City police area command and homicide detectives established a crime scene on Hertfordshire Street and at two other sites where the cars were found alight.
About 10 minutes after the shooting, one car was found on fire at Cave Close, Green Valley – a six-minute drive away.
A second car was found alight on Lewis Street, Bonnyrigg Heights – a seven-minute drive away from the shooting – several minutes later.
Detective acting Superintendent Virginia Gorman said on Tuesday the shooting was “really shocking for the family” as investigators intend on looking at Oraiha’s history and connections.
“The modus operandi of the shooting would indicate that it’s of organised crime origin. However, it’s very early in the investigation. I don’t want to commit to it,” she said.
“It’s really important that anyone who has any information about this murder at all or anything that they know about the cars that were burnt out afterwards, we are seeking the information.”
Marvin Oraiha, 24, was shot dead in his car in Elizabeth Hills on Monday afternoon.
Speaking on Nine’s Today program on Tuesday, Webb said it was still a very open investigation and detectives were on the ground investigating.
“We presume [the crimes are linked] but we can’t say that at this stage,” she said.
“We’ve been very active in arresting a number of offenders ... across NSW, and Strike Force Erebus that we’ve been running for over 12 months now is looking at this current matter to see if they are linked.”
A burnt-out car in Bonnyrigg Heights on Monday.Credit: TNV
Detectives from Liverpool City Police Area Command and the State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad, assisted by other South-West Metropolitan police and State Crime Command squads, have commenced an investigation under Strike Force Hackenberg into the shooting.
As inquiries continue, police are urging anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers.
Our Breaking News Alert will notify you of significant breaking news when it happens. Get it here.