Mourners farewell plumber killed in mistaken identity attack
Hundreds have gathered at a church in Punchbowl in Sydney's South West to pay their respects to John Versace, a young plumber shot dead on the doorstep of his parents' home in Sydney.
The 23-year-old was killed at his family's Condell Park home on May 20, and many questions about his death remain unanswered.
As reported by The Daily Telegraph, mourners filled the church on Friday, with many forced to stand in the courtyard while prayer hymns in English and Arabic played over loudspeakers before Mr Versace's hearse arrived.
A procession of motorbikes, most riders dressed in white, could be heard from several streets away as they stopped outside the church entrance.
In a eulogy, a man remembered Mr Versace as 'affectionate, protective and full of love,' saying he was 'raised with love' and good values.
The man described him as 'cheeky,' but deeply devoted to his family. '(He) never walked past his mum without kissing and hugging her,' he said over the loudspeaker.
Police say Mr Versace, who worked for his father's plumbing business, had no criminal links and only a minor traffic offence on his record.
Moments after the shooting, his parents and older sisters rushed to his side, screaming for help.
Mr Versace had just reversed his ute into the driveway of his Dalton Ave home shortly before 10.30pm when a masked gunman approached, carrying a small handgun. Superintendent Rodney Hart described the ambush as a 'brutal and violent execution style murder'.
'At very close proximity to the victim, he (the gunman) opened fire, we believe fired up to 10 bullets at the victim,' he said. 'We believe that the victim suffered at least four gunshot wounds. He slumped to the ground out the front of his home.'
Mr Versace died at the scene despite efforts by paramedics to save him.
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