Former Lone Wolf bikie Yusuf Nazlioglu is dead after being shot several times in a car park in Sydney's inner west.
Investigative sources say the attack was targeted and may be linked to the recent spate of gangland shootings that have rocked the city since October 2020.
Police said Mr Nazlioglu, who is believed to be in his 40s, was shot up to 10 times in Walker Street, Rhodes, at about 6:30pm on Monday, and was taken by ambulance to Westmead Hospital, where he later died.
Police cordoned off the car park near Rhodes Central shopping centre.
A burnt-out car was found in nearby Leeds Street shortly after the attack and police are investigating whether it is linked.
A local, who has been living in the area for about eight years, was on her way to get a coffee near where the incident occurred but was stopped by police and told to move away.
She said it was really concerning for a shooting to happen with so many families nearby.
"There's a lot of kids in this area, a lot of babies and families that just walk around," she said.
In 2020, Mr Nazlioglu was one of two men found not guilty of murdering Comanchero boss Mick Hawi, who was shot dead in the car park of Fitness First in Rockdale in February 2018.
CCTV captured the 37-year-old Hawi being shot at close range in the head, face and shoulder as he sat in his car by a person clad all in black.
Mr Nazlioglu was accused of being the gunman. After the shooting, police found a burnt-out Mercedes that had been used as a getaway car.
The court was told weeks later, that a balaclava was found in a second vehicle — a silver Toyota Aurion — contained DNA consistent with that of Mr Nazlioglu.
At that trial, the jury was also told that both men were once close friends but the relationship had soured after Hawi was "embarrassed" by Mr Nazlioglu's behaviour during a Central Coast fishing trip and ordered him home.
The falling out was suggested to be a possible motive for the killing.
Mr Nazlioglu was cleared after a three-week trial in the NSW Supreme Court, where the jury deliberated for about four days.
The shooting is the latest in a number of incidents related to gangs to have taken place in Sydney over the past two years.
The attack is not believed to be related to the feud between the Hamzy and Alameddine crime networks.
Last month the 23-year-old nephew of slain underworld figure Mahmoud "Brownie" Ahmad was shot dead in an early morning attack outside his south-west Sydney home.
Rami Iskander received multiple gunshot wounds to his chest and stomach in what police called a "tit-for-tat" shooting for his uncle's killing in late April.
Ahmad had a $1 million bounty on his head and had recently served jail time over the fatal shooting of a man outside a Condell Park smash repair shop in 2016.
In May, the brother of Comanchero heavyweight Tarek Zahed died after the pair were sprayed with bullets outside a gym in Auburn.
Tarek, 41, survived after receiving 10 shots to his head and body.
There have been 13 execution-style murders across Sydney in less than two years and several hit attempts on underworld figures.
Police are appealing for witnesses and anyone who has information or dash cam vision is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
