Arabic version: الشرطة تحقق في احتمال وقوع خطأ في تحديد الهوية بإطلاق نار في ميريلاندز ويست

According to ABC News, police are investigating whether the fatal shooting of a man in his 40s at a Merrylands West property on Wednesday afternoon was a case of mistaken identity. Emergency services were called at about 3:15pm after reports that the man had been shot in the doorway. NSW Ambulance paramedics treated him for gunshot wounds, but he died at the scene.

Superintendent Simon Glasser said the victim had no connection to organised crime and was not adversely known to police. The man did not live at the address, while residents of the home were “very well known to police” for organised crime connections. Superintendent Glasser said the victim was “quite likely” a business associate of the residents and that it was “tragically” possible the wrong person had been shot.

Detectives reviewing CCTV identified a grey Audi sedan leaving shortly after the shooting. Superintendent Glasser said it was last seen travelling west on Bruce Street in Merrylands West. Police asked anyone with dash-cam footage or information to contact authorities.

Police were also examining whether the victim was ambushed after collecting two young children at a nearby school. He arrived at the property with a resident and the children, who police believe were inside the premises when the shooting occurred. When asked whether the man had been followed from the school to the suburban street, Superintendent Glasser said it was likely.

The death is the second deadly suspected underworld shooting that week, following the killing of university student Marco Tapia inside his Glen Alpine home. NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said Mr Tapia’s death appeared to be an “innocent life” lost to organised crime. Premier Chris Minns cancelled some plans during his India trip to receive a briefing on the shootings.