Those close to slain father Taha Sabbagh are claiming his shooting death is a case of “mistaken identity”.
Sydney’s first gang-related murder in six months is under investigation, with detectives treating the shooting as an “isolated” but gang-related and targeted incident.
Friends and loved ones, however, reject the suggestion Mr Sabbagh was the target.
On the news of his death, one friend on social media stated: “Taha Sabbagh – a beautiful person who’s (sic) life was taken mistakenly and undeservedly.”
Sefton gym shooting victim Taha Sabbagh.
In numerous posts, a flurry of friends has responded quickly to people critical of Mr Sabbagh’s gangland connections – insisting the shooting was a case of “mistaken identity”.
On Thursday, Mr Sabbagh was shot and killed in front of his 12-year-old son in Sydney’s southwest.
Authorities say he was shot up to 10 times while seated in his car outside the Elite Fight Force gym at Sefton.
He was about to exit the vehicle when a Mazda 3 pulled up beside him, and shots were fired at him.
The 40-year-old father, who had connections to individuals well-known to the police, died at the scene.
Taha Sabbagh pictured with social media star Hasbulla.
Police are treating the incident as a targeted murder but have yet to establish a motive. Superintendent Danny Doherty, head of the New South Wales (NSW) homicide squad, said that the circumstances of the murder were consistent with an organised crime hit.
He added that Mr Sabbagh was not known to be a heavy hitter in Sydney’s underworld, and investigations were looking into whether or not Mr Sabbagh was the intended target.
“Whether he was the intended target or not, we’ll still keep an open mind — it hasn’t been established,” he said.
“But the hallmarks of the circumstances lean towards a targeted, organised crime murder.”
According to witnesses, Mr Sabbagh’s son, who was sitting in the car next to his father, attempted to get help after the shooting.
A witness who arrived on the scene after the shooting described hearing the boy screaming, “Help me, help me, my dad’s been shot,” The Daily Telegraph reported.
Investigations are underway following the fatal shooting. Picture: NCA NewsWire
Police believe that at least two people were involved in the shooting and are asking for anyone with information to come forward.
The Mazda thought to have been used in the shooting was found burnt out on a nearby street in Birrong.
Detectives are urging anyone with dashcam footage taken in the area on Thursday morning to come forward.
The murder of Mr Sabbagh was the first gang-related murder in Sydney in six months. In the two years leading up to August 2022, at least 15 people died in underworld-related shootings.
Police have linked most of these shootings to ongoing gangland feuds, including the Hamzy-Alameddine conflict.
The victim’s car under plastic for forensic investigation in the car park of Elite Fight Force. Picture: NCA NewsWire
However, Superintendent Doherty said this incident might not be related to these feuds.
He added that the number of shootings and murders in Sydney had decreased significantly in recent months.
The last shooting we’ve had that has an organised crime link was over six months ago,” he said
“The number of shootings and murders have come down quite dramatically.
“The police have worked really hard in that area, with the assistance of the community.”
A series of high-profile arrests over the past year have helped police gain the upper hand on the criminal element using the streets as a battleground.
The getaway car was burnt out at Birrong near the train station. Picture: NCA NewsWire
Superintendent Doherty said that the police were treating Mr Sabbagh’s “Sickening” murder as an isolated incident, but were keeping an open mind about the motive.
The hallmarks of the circumstances lean towards a targeted, organised crime murder,” he said
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“While he was not well known to police, he was associated to people who are well known to police and have strong criminal activity connected to them.
“However, that still doesn’t mitigate how poor this is, having a 12-year-old boy having to witness this.”