Homicide Squad detectives have charged a man for the alleged murder of a Merrylands man and injuring of another in a 2022 Western Sydney public place shooting.
About 11.50pm on Thursday 3 March 2022, emergency services were called to a service station at the intersection of Pitt and Neil Streets, Merrylands, following reports a man had been shot.
On arrival, officers attached to Cumberland Police Area Command located a 39-year-old man with a gunshot wound to his buttocks.
He was treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics before being taken to Westmead Hospital in a stable condition. He has since recovered from the shooting but still carries injuries from the incident.
A short time later, officers located the body of a man with gunshot injuries near the intersection of Fox and Robert Streets, Holroyd.
He was identified as 40-year-old Merrylands man Mohammad Chami.
Two crime scenes were established, which were examined by specialist forensic police, and a search of the surrounding area was conducted.
Initial inquiries were conducted by Cumberland Police Area Command, before detectives from the State Crime Command's Homicide Squad took carriage of the investigation under Strike Force Severne.
Following extensive investigations, strike force detectives – with assistance from Central Metropolitan Region Odin – arrested a 41-year-old man at a unit in Mascot about 7am today (Wednesday 11 September 2024).
He was taken to Mascot Police Station where he was charged with murder, shoot with intent to murder and possess pistol and possess firearm in contravention of firearms prohibition order.
The man was refused bail to appear before Downing Centre Local Court today.
Detectives will allege in court the 41-year-old was directly involved in the shooting and murder of Mohammad Chami and wounding of another man following a personal disagreement between the men.
Detective Superintendent Danny Doherty, Commander of the Homicide Squad, said detectives have worked tirelessly for today's result and to bring answers to Mohammad's family.
"This alleged murder was a brazen public place shooting resulting in the death of one man, the wounding of another and chaos in the streets of Sydney.
"But this shooting was not driven by drugs or money. This shooting was the direct result of a personal disagreement between two men which resulted in death and terror," Det Supt Danny Doherty said.
"That is why today's results are so important for detectives. It was a hard-fought investigation that has not only brought answers to Mohammad's family but also to the wider Sydney community who was impacted by this violent attack.
Investigations under Strike Force Severne continue.
Anyone with information that may assist investigators is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.
