A man who has survived two assassination attempts has lived through a suspected third one, after being shot four times in Sydney’s north-west.
The 28-year-old, identified as Vailena Koloamatangi, was allegedly shot four times in the driveway of a home on Dale Place in Winston Hills at 11pm yesterday.
Koloamatangi has been shot twice before, once last year at a Canterbury Road car park, and once while he was sitting in a Toyota Camry in Merrylands in 2020.
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It’s understood that Koloamatangi is a well-known underworld figure.
Police have set up crime scenes in Winston Hills – north of Parramatta – and nearby Northmead, where a burning Jeep Grand Cherokee SUV possibly linked to the shooting was found minutes after.
They’re still searching for whoever might have been involved in the attack.
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Detective Superintendent Barry Vincent said Koloamatangi is known to police and the investigation would consider if the man’s past or associates were related to the alleged shooting.
Vincent also said a police guard is at the hospital where Koloamatangi is recovering, following concerns the offenders could return.
“At this point, the hospital guard is in place for his safety and safety of healthcare workers,” he said.
“[We hold] concerns about that male being targeted… and whether that may present other opportunities for offenders we are looking for.”
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Officers called to the property yesterday found the 28-year-old had been shot four times in “various parts of his body”.
Police understand he was shot in the driveway of the property, however they could not confirm if he was inside a car, or getting out of the car at the time of the alleged shooting.
He was rushed to hospital in a serious but stable condition after treatment by paramedics at the scene.
A police spokesperson said earlier that a police guard was standard procedure for victims of crime of this nature and that it was believed the victim had been at the location when the shooter arrived.
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About 10 minutes after the shooting, police were called to Redbank Road, just five minutes away in Northmead, where they found the Jeep “well alight”.
Firefighters tried to put out the blaze but the car was destroyed before being seized for forensic examination when police set up a second crime scene.
The spokesperson said it was thought the vehicle could possibly be linked to the shooting.
Police are asking anyone with information, CCTV or dashcam footage to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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