Fatal shooting linked to attack on cousin

26 Oct 2012, 5:42 pm   -   Source: AAP

Police have linked a double shooting to a previous incident following unrest within an organised crime group in Sydney.

A shooting that left one man dead in a Sydney street and another man wounded has been linked to a shooting attack on the cousin of one of the victims.

Yehya Amoud, 27, was the intended target when at least one gunman opened fire on him and driver Bassam Hijazi, 32, as they sat in a car in Greenacre Road, Greenacre, about 1.20pm (AEDT) on October 14.

Mr Amoud, seated in the front passenger seat, was shot multiple times in the chest and shoulder. Neighbours ran to their aid, but Mr Amoud died in the street.

Mr Hijazi suffered multiple gunshot wounds to his legs and has since been discharged from hospital.

He has given a statement to detectives which has not helped their investigation.

Police have confirmed to AAP that the two men were victims of an "internal blue" among members of an organised crime group called Brothers For Life.

A senior police source said the group originated in southwest Sydney and specialised in extortion and drug supply.

"While I can't predict when an arrest will happen, there are a number of lines of inquiry that are promising at the moment," the police source told AAP on Friday.

"There was a previous event that occurred about six days earlier that we believe is connected to this."

A 27-year-old man was shot in the leg in a street around 9pm (AEDT) on October 8 and taken to hospital in a stable condition.

Police believe the man and Mr Hijazi are cousins.

Mr Amoud and Mr Hijazi were planning to meet at least one individual when someone opened fire on them.

Detectives have been investigating whether the victims wanted to discuss unrest among Brothers For Life or if the meeting related to an unpaid drug deal from previous months.

The senior police source said detectives were also investigating a third possibility that could not be revealed.

Brothers For Life was started by convicted killer Bassam Hamzy, the source said.

Hamzy was found guilty of the 1998 murder of Kris Toumazis outside the Mr Goodbar nightclub in Sydney's inner-city suburb of Darlinghurst.

Hamzy was also convicted of other shooting charges related to the incident and for conspiring to kill a man who was a witness in his trial.

He is serving a 21-year prison sentence.

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