The young man killed in Sydney‘s most recent fatal shooting has been identified, and police have confirmed a burnt-out car found nearby was linked to the incident.
Osama Momani, 22, was shot dead while sitting in a car outside a residence on Regiment Grove in Winston Hills, in Sydney’s west, about 7pm on Tuesday.
Momani was on bail awaiting trial on charges including aggravated break and enter over an alleged home invasion in Chester Hill in September 2023.
Momani suffered chest wounds and was rushed to Westmead Hospital by ambulance, where he later died.
‘Initial investigations suggest he attended the address or location from outside the local area,’ Superintendent Barry Vincent said.
He confirmed Momani was shot while sitting in the front passenger seat, alongside another person who was unharmed and is assisting police.
Hours later, police and fire crews were called to Bounty Place in Old Toongabbie shortly before 11.15pm, where a Toyota SUV was found alight.
The blaze was extinguished by firefighters and no one was injured. Police believe the car was linked to Momani’s shooting.
Osama Momani, 22, (pictured) was shot dead in Winston Hills on Tuesday night
Emergency services rushed to the scene but were unable to prevent his death in hospital
Detectives have launched an investigation into the incident on Tuesday night
In many of the targeted shootings in Sydney’s west, the car used by the assailants is burned to destroy forensic evidence.
Crime scenes were established at both locations with the Homicide Squad and local detectives launching Strike Force Karlgain to investigate.
A teenage neighbour, who saw the man’s body being lifted into an ambulance, described the scene.
‘I was in my room, and I saw red and blue flashing lights reflected on my neighbour’s house,’ the neighbour told The Sydney Morning Herald.
‘So I ran downstairs, and I told my dad, and we went outside to see what was happening.’
‘We saw a whole lot of police cars and ambulances, and I saw a man on a stretcher being carried up into an ambulance, and he had been shot in the chest,’ they said.
Anyone with information about the incident has been urged to contact NSW Police.
It is the second shooting to rock Sydney in two days, after gunmen opened fire outside a busy pub during the dinner rush on Sunday and shot an underworld figure with links to a street gang
Gilbert Shino, who was shot dead outside the Harold pub in Forest Lodge, pictured with his wife Natasha on a family trip to Melbourne in January
The latest Sydney shooting came two days after gunmen opened fire outside The Harold hotel in the inner-west suburb of Forest Lodge.
Gilbert Shino, 39, died at the scene despite the efforts of paramedics and an off-duty doctor.
His friend Maradona Yalda, 31, was rushed to hospital in a critical condition, which was later downgraded to stable.
Police said they believed Momani’s death was not directly linked to the Forest Lodge incident.
Mr Yalda is understood to have links with an Assyrian street gang called DLASTHR, along with former Comanchero bikie Andre Kallita, who has since left the club.
There is no suggestion of wrongdoing by Mr Yalda.
Witnesses to Sunday’s shooting said they saw a man lying on the ground bleeding on the corner of Ross Street and Wigram Road, directly outside the pub’s entrance.
Staff locked the door and patrons sheltered under tables as dozens of shots rang out outside.
Police evacuated the pub when it was safe to do so following the shooting.
Local residents were reportedly instructed to remain indoors while police collected statements.
Police revealed on Monday that Mr Yalda and his friend had just left the pub when they were ambushed.
‘They were making their way to the car, which was parked about 100m up the road,’ Leichhardt Superintendent Alf Sergi told 2GB’s Ben Fordham.
‘As they got closer to the vehicle, they appear to have been ambushed. Shots fired.
‘The 39-year-old male, he suffered gunshot wounds and fell to the ground.
‘Police were nearby… they treated the man with the help of a doctor that was a resident nearby, and also paramedics, but unfortunately he succumbed to his wounds.’