Ferenc Stemler, 28, was shot in Broughton Street, Canterbury, about 2am and despite the efforts of paramedics, died at the scene.
The five-day shooting spree began on Sunday, July 23, when two men aged 25 and 22 and a woman, 19, were shot while sitting in two parked cars – the 25-year-old died in hospital last Friday, followed by the shooting of lawyer, Mahmoud Abbas, 31, outside his home in Greenacre early last Wednesday morning and taken to hospital in a serious but stable condition, and then Mr Stemler’s fatal shooting in the early hours of Thursday morning.
Police believe all were targeted attacks.
In response, a new taskforce has been formed to coordinate the investigations and operations to target those involved in recent public place shootings and associated organised criminal activities.
Taskforce Magnus will be led by State Crime Command (SCC) and will examine the links between the shootings dating back to that of Alen Moradian in Bondi Junction on Tuesday, June 27, and be responsible for ramping up activity to target and disrupt those still believed to be in ongoing conflict.
NSW Police Force Commissioner Karen Webb said the safety and well-being of our law-abiding community remained her number one priority and was motivation for announcing such a significant operational response.
“Public place shootings are reckless – and criminals carrying out such attacks show a blatant disregard for, not only their own safety, but that of the community,” she said.
“Taskforce Magnus will provide investigating officers with a full suite of capabilities and an arsenal of resources to not only find those responsible, but to end this brazen violence on our streets,” Commissioner Webb said.
“Organised criminals have proven time and time again they operate within a cone of silence- unwilling to assist police due to fear of retribution or misguided loyalties.
“We’re also asking the community to play their part in bringing these criminals to justice. Police need evidence to put anyone before a court, which is where you can help us.”
Taskforce investigators will also make sure those who are found to be responsible for these shootings “will not only feel the full force of the NSW Police Force, but the NSW Crime Commission (NSWCC) and Australian Crime Intelligence Commission (ACIC)”.
