EXCLUSIVE John Versace family's sad admission after he was executed in a hail of gunfire on the doorstep of their home

Daily Mail​

21-05-2025

The family of the young plumber executed in a 'targeted' suburban slaying has confirmed the hit was 'definitely' a case of mistaken identity.
John Versace, 23, was ambushed as he got out of his ute at his family's home in Dalton Avenue, Condell Park in Sydney 's south-west on Monday night.
He was cut down by a barrage of up to ten gunshots and suffered four bullet wounds before dying on the doorstep of the home when paramedics couldn't save him.
As the manhunt for the gunman continues, investigators believe Mr Versace, who had no known links to organised crime, may have been the victim of mistaken identity.
Gangland sources claim the intended target is reported to be an organised crime figure who is said to live on the same street.
Mr Versace's sister Deanna Versace posted an emotional tribute to her brother on social media which was reshared by a family friend, Rita Taouk who said the killers had the wrong target.
'It was definitely the wrong person,' she said in response to a comment on whether the young man had underworld links.
Members of Sydney's gangland underworld raced to the scene on Monday night amid fears that it was one of their own who was shot.
Police are also examining whether the killing is linked to a brazen drive-by shooting in Mount Druitt almost a fortnight ago.
It comes as harrowing footage of Mr Versace's final moments on his parent's doorstep emerged.
Aerial footage showed Mr Versace surrounded by paramedics trying to revive him metres from the front door as his distraught family helplessly watched on.
In another video, gunshots can be heard in from neighbouring streets while in a third clip, the distraught cries of Mr Versace's loved ones can be heard following the shooting.
Forensic officers remained at the crime scene on Tuesday as shocked family and friends arrived at the home to console Mr Versace's family.
Police have obtained 'good quality CCTV' from the home, which showed Mr Versace returning home shortly before the shooting.
He had reversed his ute up the driveway and parked it very close to the garage door.
As he was exiting the ute, a small silver hatchback, which police believe was a Toyota Corolla, arrived at the address and parked across the driveway.
'A male exited the rear driver's side of that car and made his way up the driveway towards the victim,' Superintendent Rodney Hart told reporters.
Mr Versace saw the man approaching him, dressed in black, wearing a hood and with his face covered.
The young tradesman backed towards the home and found himself pressed against the garage door and an existing wall.
The gunman raised his right hand and opened fire with a Glock-style weapon - shooting up to 10 bullets at the victim.
Police believe Mr Versace suffered at least four gunshot wounds.
Following the shooting, the gunman returned to the hatchback, which was last seen travelling eastbound on Dalton Avenue.
Emergency services later received reports of a car alight 12km away in Fairfield Heights.
Police believe the car was stolen in December.
'Upon that vehicle being extinguished of the flames and a cursory search, a handgun similar to that of a Glock-style pistol was located in that vehicle,' Supt Hart said.
'We believe it was driven there, it was torched, and those offenders were there, then got into another car and left the scene. But at this stage, I don't have the details of that second car.'
Mr Versace, who lived with his parents and adult sisters, worked for his father's western Sydney plumbing company.
The heartfelt eulogy penned by Deanna Versace and shared by Ms Taok said she was 'heartbroken' by the death of her brother.
'John, no words can describe the pain we are all feeling and will continue to feel for the rest of our lives,' she wrote.
'You were the world's greatest brother, son, grandson, cousin and friend. We are so lucky and blessed to have had the time we had with you but your life was cut too short.
'You did not deserve this. You're at peace and with Jesus now. We love you so much John. Our angel forever. This world wasn't good enough for you. Life will never be the same.'
Mr Versace was not known to police and did not have a criminal record.
'I want to assure the community that at this stage we believe that this is, although an extremely brutal and violent execution style murder, is a targeted attack,' Supt Hart said.
'Now, although this victim at this stage, we believe, may not have links to organised crime or something in the way of drugs, we believe that this has the hallmarks of a targeted execution. (It is) very brutal, very distressing.
'So I want to reassure the community that we are treating this not as a random attack. His family members do not have criminal records, and he at this stage, I believe, has one traffic offence.
'We need to look at who he is involved with, who he knows, what he did leading up to this attack on him - to get an idea of exactly what has happened and resulted in this brutal murder.'
On Wednesday evening the community are due to gather at the Monastery of Saint Charbel Lebanese Maronite Order in Punchbowl to offer their condolences to the Versace family.
Police urge anyone with any information, dashcam or CCTV footage from the surrounding areas to contact Crime Stoppers.