An underworld figure known as the ‘Angel of Death’ was shot dead in a hail of bullets in western Sydney this morning, with police admitting there are ‘too many suspects and too many motives’ for the gangland killing.
Tarek Ayoub, 29, was riddled with as many as seven bullets on Harold Street in Parramatta at around 3.30am on Monday.
NSW Ambulance paramedics were unable to save him.
A manhunt has been launched for at least two gunmen who are believed to have fled in a stolen Audi sedan and then set it on fire at around 3.45am on a street about 4km from the crime scene.
Witnesses saw them run from the burning car and then flee in a white SUV.
Homicide squad commander Detective Superintendent Danny Doherty said Ayoub was visiting a colleague when he was shot “a large number of times” in the car park.
He said Ayoub was a known underworld associate with an extensive criminal past and that his death was “no surprise” to investigators because he “lived and died by the sword”.
“It was a targeted shooting. He had a long history of violence,” Detective Doherty told reporters.
Tarek Ayoub (pictured), 29, was riddled with as many as seven bullets at around 3.30am on Monday on Harold Street in Parramatta. Detectives said his death was ‘no surprise’ given he was an underworld figure known as the ‘Angel of Death’
Homicide squad commander Detective Chief Inspector Danny Doherty said Ayoub was visiting a colleague when he was shot ‘numerous times’ in the car park
Pictured: Friends and family comfort each other after the shooting
‘This was a message that was sent to Tarek Ayoub. It was very loud and clear that they wanted to kill him.
“He has ties to several organized crime groups. In the underworld he was known as the Angel of Death.”
Police are looking for Ayoub’s killers. Several people have been seen leaving the scene of the crime.
When asked if detectives had any theories about the murder, Detective Chief Inspector Danny Doherty said there were “too many suspects and too many motives” because he was “someone the police knew well”.
Witnesses reported hearing at least eight shots, with the victim reportedly being attacked in an apartment complex garage (pictured: police at the scene)
Police are looking for Ayoub’s killers. Several people have been seen leaving the scene of the crime.
Pictured: A police officer searches under a car
Ayoub’s brother Najm was seen at the crime scene on Monday morning.
Najm was charged by police for his alleged involvement in another shooting in June.
Najm is said to have taken 23-year-old Thikran Hachem to Bankstown Hospital in the early hours of June 25 after Hachem suffered a gunshot wound to the abdomen.
According to The Daily Telegraph, the pair were said to have been travelling together when shots were fired at the car they were in.
Najm was arrested after he reportedly refused to tell police what happened or where the shooting took place.
Ayoub’s brother Najm was spotted at the crime scene on Monday morning (photo)
Police have set up Strike Force Juno to investigate his brother’s death and are calling on anyone with information to come forward.
They are particularly interested in anyone who is in the Harold Street area of North Parramatta between 3.30am and 3.45am.
“We want to know who is responsible for this,” Detective Inspector Doherty said.
The family has been informed and is trying to gather information.
“That person is associated with that block of units. It was an innocent encounter, so a catch-up. He was shot when he came back to his vehicle.”
One local resident said he heard “several bangs”, while another said it was “shocking” that a shooting happened so close to home.
When asked if detectives had any theories about the murder, Superintendent Danny Doherty said there were ‘too many suspects and too many motives’ because he was ‘someone well known to police’
Pictured: Forensic personnel arrive on scene
A resident of the complex told Daily Mail Australia he heard seven loud bangs as Ayoub was shot below his window.
“It woke my two-year-old up. It was pretty scary,” he said.
‘About ten minutes later all the police arrived.’
The 29-year-old was previously charged in connection with the 2017 murder of teenager Braydon Dillan.
Ayoub pleaded guilty to concealing details of the offence and is said to have been a player in Sydney’s criminal networks for many years.
More coming soon.