A member of a notorious underworld family in Sydney has been shot dead in the city's inner west.
Police are searching for people connected to the murder of Pasquale Barbaro, in what they believe to be a targeted shooting.
Neighbours on Larkhall Avenue in Sydney's suburban Earlwood say they heard shots ring out shortly after 9:30 on Monday night.
Charlie Colosimo says he is scared to think of such a brutal incident so close to his home.
"Very, very loud, because I was in the front room and I heard this on the back here. But I never thought it could have been a shotgun or anything like that."
Another neighbour, Gabriela Bintos, says she heard the gunfire with her boyfriend.
"And a couple of minutes later, there was someone screaming. So everyone started to come out, people from the street."
New South Wales police superintendent David Johnson says Pasquale Barbaro is believed to have been visiting neighbours on the street when he was shot multiple times in the head.
"The person who was at the centre of this was clearly the intended victim of this incident, and I just want to reassure the public there is no threat to them."
Pasquale Barbaro was a man said to have nine lives.
He escaped an alleged attempt on his life in Leichhardt in Sydney's inner west last year when a man fired six times in front of a business.
But Superintendent Johnson says any links to mafia-style crimes, as has been speculated, is speculation until proven.
"I can't say whether these matters are related, because I don't know the answer to that."
An Audi Q-7 was seen speeding away from the scene, and police found a car of the same make and model 40 minutes later after it had been set alight.
Philip Legano was in inner-west suburban Concord when he says he passed a trail of fire leading to a car by the side of the road.
"There was a trail that came right across the road underneath this SUV.** And I thought it was a bit funny, but, as soon as I went past, I noticed it, and, about 30 seconds later, it just went up."
The Barbaro family has a notorious past.
Pasquale Barbaro's grandfather was shot dead in Brisbane in 1990.
His cousin was gunned down in the same Melbourne shooting as notorious underworld crime figure Jason Moran in 2003.
His uncle is serving 30 years behind bars on drug charges.
And his father, Giuseppe Barbaro, has also served time on drug charges.
Police are asking for anyone with information on the incident or who may have been associated with the victim to come forward.
"It's in their best interest to come forward and speak to police, because some of these people ... clearly last night, these people are dangerous."
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