Police are investigating the connections between the son of former NRL star Matt Utai and a notorious crime family following a targeted drive-by shooting that left the athlete seriously wounded. The incident occurred outside Utai's home on Macquarie Street in Greenacre, south-west Sydney, just before 6am on Tuesday morning.
Former Bulldogs Winger Shot in Early Morning Attack
Matt Utai, the 44-year-old former Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs winger, was shot in the leg and shoulder while unlocking his Toyota Hilux outside his duplex residence. He was rushed to hospital in serious condition and required immediate surgery. Bankstown Police Area Command Superintendent Rodney Hart confirmed that Utai has no criminal history and is believed to be an innocent casualty in what authorities have described as a targeted attack.
Son's Criminal History Under Scrutiny
The investigation has now turned to Utai's 24-year-old son, Iziah Tafeamalii Utai, and his established links to the Alameddine crime family. Iziah has served prison time and has multiple convictions including firearms, drugs, and robbery charges dating back to 2019. His most recent sentencing in 2023 resulted in 18 months jail with a nine-month non-parole period.
Police are examining whether the shooting might be connected to Iziah's criminal associations, particularly after his Merrylands barber shop was firebombed twice eight months ago by a teenager known to be an associate of the Alameddines.
CCTV Footage Reveals Brazen Attack
Surveillance footage obtained by investigators shows Utai walking out of his duplex moments before the shooting. As he opened his vehicle door, the rear door of a white SUV parked across the street opened, and a gunman emerged firing multiple shots. Remarkably, the CCTV shows Utai running toward the attacker rather than away.
The gunman returned to the SUV and appeared to be joined by a second attacker from the opposite side of the vehicle before the car sped away. Utai initially walked down the street away from his house before returning and collapsing on his front lawn.
Possible 'Coconut Cartel' Involvement
Speculation continues to mount that the attack may have been carried out by the 'Coconut Cartel,' a new underworld group allegedly connected to a recent firebombing of an Alameddine family property. The Coconut Cartel were once hired by the Alameddines but experienced a falling out with the established crime family.
This breakaway gang is believed to consist of former Kaiviti Family members, an Islander and Fijian gang network. The Raptor squad, which specialises in targeting bikie gangs and organised crime networks, will lead the investigation into the shooting.
Neighbour Recounts Terrifying Moments
A neighbour who requested anonymity described hearing five gunshots during the early morning attack. "I was asleep in the lounge room and my mum was making breakfast for my dad," she recalled. "All we heard is gunshots. I heard five shots. Then he started yelling. He was screaming."
The witness saw Utai lying on the grass near a black car, unable to move, before he was taken away in an ambulance. "He was aware," she noted. "He was just in a lot of pain." The neighbour added that she heard the vehicle speeding away but didn't see it, describing the normally quiet street as "really safe" and expressing how "scary" the incident had been.
Police Discover Burned-Out Vehicle
Following the shooting, police were called to Samuel Street in Wiley Park where officers discovered an SUV on fire. Fire and Rescue NSW extinguished the blaze, and the vehicle was seized for forensic examination. Authorities have established crime scenes at both locations and believe the two incidents are connected.
Superintendent Hart emphasised that investigators are exploring all possibilities: "Whether the victim was the intended target or it was somebody that he knows or associates with, or he's related to, will form part of the investigation." Police continue to search for two offenders: a driver and the gunman responsible for the attack.
