A tradie shot in a horrific daylight attack was an associate of executed crime boss Sam ‘The Punisher’ Abdulrahim, detectives revealed on Monday.
Chilling CCTV footage of the shooting was released by Victorian police on Monday in a last ditch effort to catch the hoodie-clad gunman, said to be of African appearance.
Detective Inspector Adam Tilley confirmed the 49-year old victim was known to police as a mate of feared underworld figure, Abdulrahim, known as The Punisher.
‘I can say they were known to each other, but is that linked to this shooting?’ he said.
‘We have no intelligence to suggest that because of his association with Sam that this matter is linked,’
Abdulrahim was gunned down by a team of assassins on January 28 in the underground car park at Preston’s Quest Hotel in Melbourne‘s north.
The champion kickboxer had been a key player in Melbourne’s ongoing ‘tobacco wars’, which has seen shops around the state torched in a deadly turf war.
Inspector Tilley declined to elaborate on just how the latest shooting victim was known to police, nor would he reveal what trade he was in.
In the days before The Punisher was murdered, it was reported his associates had also become targets.
The horrific moment a tradie was shot while attending a job has been caught on shocking CCTV footage (pictured)
Inspector Tilley refused to speculate on the victim’s possible involvement in the illicit tobacco trade.
‘I don’t have any information to accurately say that’ he said. ‘We don’t have a motive for the shooting. We don’t know who the offender was.’
The victim had been lured to a property on Denys Street at Fawkner, in Melbourne‘s north, under the pretence of providing a quote for a job.
The targeted attack happened on October 3, 2024, with police releasing the footage in the hope someone might recognise the shooter.
Questioned about the delay in coming forward, Inspector Tilley conceded the shooter may very well have already fled overseas.
‘There are numerous inquiries that we have to make in relation to any significant incident,’ he said. ‘Numerous avenues of inquiry have already been explored.
‘We obviously have forensic evidence and we hope that at some point the car will be recovered.
‘We’ve conducted various inquiries to try and get to the point where we can ultimately charge someone and provide some reassurance to the victim and his family.
‘We’re now at the point where a number of those avenues have been exhausted and that’s where we’re seeking support from the public.’
The gunman was seen in the video wearing black and white sneakers, black track pants and a hoodie as he ran up behind the tradie.
Sam ‘The Punisher’ Abdulrahim was gunned down in January
Sam ‘The Punisher’ Abdulrahim on his final journey to the grave
The tradie turned around and saw the gunman who stopped three metres from him, raised his firearm and shot him.
A bullet hit the tradie’s left ankle and then travelled through the flesh and bone and hit his right foot.
He was heard screaming out in agony as the gunman ran to his getaway car and made his escape.
Inspector Tilley said police believed the shooter appeared to have no intention on killing his target.
‘The angle of the firearm is pointed down at the time of the shooting. I don’t believe the intention was to kill,’ he said.
‘He certainly got up close enough that if he wanted to do that I believe he could have.’
A witness said the gunman was of African appearance, about 182cm tall, with a slim build, dark hair and brown eyes.
The tradie was rushed to hospital with serious injuries, which he is still being treated almost six months later.
The gunman’s getaway car is believed to be a 2018 white Mercedes Benz GLC43 with cloned plates reading 1NB7FC.
A witness said the gunman was of African appearance, about 182cm tall, with a slim build, dark hair and brown eyes. Digital composite image pictured
Police are hunting any trace of the getaway car (pictured) which was using cloned pics
The vehicle has not yet been located.
Police believe the address the tradie was asked to attend was randomly chosen and the incident is not connected to anyone living on that street.
While the victim himself has provided some information to police, Inspector Tilley suggested he had not been fully co-operative with the investigation.
‘He spoke to police,’ he said. ‘He provided an account. He’s in contact with us and his partner. However limited co-operation.’
They have released a digital composite image of a man they believe may be able to assist with their enquiries.
Anybody with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.