A 38-year-old man died following a shooting on Shale Street in Lidcombe on Monday 16 March 2026. Four men aged 26, 22, 21 and 19 have since been charged and remain before the court, according to NSW Police.
Officers found the 38-year-old man suffering gunshot wounds and he was taken to hospital, where he died a short time later. A second man at the scene suffered non-life-threatening injuries during an assault and was also taken to hospital.
The nature of the alleged attack has set it apart from random street violence. Police said the shooting appeared to be linked to organised crime and was not a random act, with Superintendent Robert Toynton telling reporters: "This is a targeted attack. This is not a random attack."
Later that afternoon, officers arrested a 21-year-old man after a car crashed into a parked vehicle, with NSW Police discovering a firearm inside the car. Detectives later carried out a raid at a home on Spurway Street in Ermington, near Lidcombe, about 8pm, where a 22-year-old man was arrested and charged with murder; both men were refused bail.
The swift progression from incident to charges reflects the scale of police resources deployed. Police have released images of a man they believe may assist with inquiries, described as being of Pacific Islander or Maori appearance, possibly in his 20s or early 30s, with a black beard and moustache, wearing a black zip-up hoodie on top of a black cap.
Police urge anyone who knows the man or has information that may assist investigators to contact Auburn Police Station or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.