A serene suburban street in Sydney's north-west has been transformed into a major crime scene after a brutal, targeted shooting claimed the life of a father and left his son critically wounded.
The attack unfolded in the driveway of a home on Caroline Chisholm Drive in Winston Hills around 3:15 pm on Wednesday. In a brazen act of violence carried out in broad daylight, a gunman approached 60-year-old Osama Momani and his 27-year-old son, opening fire before fleeing the scene.
Emergency services rushed to the affluent suburb following multiple calls from horrified residents. Despite the efforts of paramedics, Mr. Momani succumbed to his injuries at the scene. His son was treated for multiple gunshot wounds before being transported to Westmead Hospital, where he remains in a serious but stable condition.
A Community in Shock
The quiet, family-oriented neighbourhood is reeling from the shocking event. "It's just not something you expect here," one local resident was overheard saying, a sentiment echoed throughout the community as police cordoned off the street with crime scene tape.
Forensic officers meticulously combed the property for evidence, with a focus on a black Audi SUV that appeared to be central to the investigation. The vehicle, parked in the driveway, was left with its doors open in the chaotic aftermath.
Police Hunt for a Motive and a Gunman
NSW Police have established Strike Force Mactier to investigate the double shooting. While a motive is yet to be officially confirmed, detectives are strongly operating under the belief that this was a targeted attack, not a random act of violence.
Assistant Commissioner Stuart Smith addressed the media, stating: "We believe it's targeted, the circumstances would say that." He confirmed that the two victims were known to police, fuelling speculation of a potential link to organised crime or gangland activity.
Investigators are now urgently appealing to the public for information, particularly any dashcam footage from vehicles travelling on Caroline Chisholm Drive around the time of the shooting. They are piecing together the movements of the assailant, who is believed to have fled in a vehicle parked nearby.
