Latest news with #Choup
West Australian
07-07-2025
- West Australian
Buried alive: miracle escape after man shot through eye
A man who crawled out of a shallow grave with a bullet lodged in his brain is among the victims of a criminal gang who went on a six-day rampage spanning multiple states. The incidents include the kidnapping and torture of one man and the murder of another in NSW, along with the attempted murder in Queensland. Investigators believe the incidents, occurring in July 2024, are linked to a Victorian drug-trafficking syndicate. In one incident, a 23-year-old man attended a service station in a small Queensland town covered in dirt. Despite suffering a gunshot wound, he asked staff not to call for help before he collapsed. A trip to hospital confirmed he had been shot through the eye and had a bullet lodged in his brain. Police believe he was shot and buried alive, with his attackers unaware he was still breathing. "It's absolutely surprising that he did survive," NSW Police Detective Superintendent Joseph Doueihi told reporters on Monday. "The bullet lodged in his brain and for someone to survive that is a miracle." But the unlikely story of survival was just one event in a six-day string of carnage, which included the killing of Rich Choup. Trail bike riders found the 32-year-old's remains on August 21, 2024 at Lucas Heights, in Sydney's south. He had been shot and had the top of one ear severed, an autopsy found. Police believe Mr Choup was a member of the drug-trafficking syndicate but had fallen foul of its higher-ups. CCTV footage released by police showed a man slap the victim across the face, but he did not resist or attempt to flee. Mr Choup was reported missing days later. His body was not found for weeks, but police believe he was murdered shortly after his disappearance. In a third incident, a 31-year-old was allegedly kidnapped from southwest Sydney. He also had part of his ear cut off before being released. He did not report the matter to police, but months later officers raided the Canley Vale property where the alleged torture took place. "Unfortunately, it's been seen quite often now that part of their torturing technique is to sever ears and fingers and toes," Det Supt Doueihi said. While the exact nature of the dispute was yet to be determined, it might relate to missing drugs or money. "If I was a betting man, that's what I would say the situation was," Det Supt Doueihi said. Police have released CCTV of three cars allegedly involved in the incidents, including a grey Audi they think might have been used in the Sydney kidnapping along with the killing of Mr Choup. NSW Premier Chris Minns called the attackers "animals" and said the public was horrified by the crimes. "There is absolutely no tolerance for this kind of shocking violent behaviour (but) police have got a good record of smashing up organised crime and violent gangs," he said.
Perth Now
07-07-2025
- Perth Now
Buried alive: miracle escape after man shot through eye
A man who crawled out of a shallow grave with a bullet lodged in his brain is among the victims of a criminal gang who went on a six-day rampage spanning multiple states. The incidents include the kidnapping and torture of one man and the murder of another in NSW, along with the attempted murder in Queensland. Investigators believe the incidents, occurring in July 2024, are linked to a Victorian drug-trafficking syndicate. In one incident, a 23-year-old man attended a service station in a small Queensland town covered in dirt. Despite suffering a gunshot wound, he asked staff not to call for help before he collapsed. A trip to hospital confirmed he had been shot through the eye and had a bullet lodged in his brain. Police believe he was shot and buried alive, with his attackers unaware he was still breathing. "It's absolutely surprising that he did survive," NSW Police Detective Superintendent Joseph Doueihi told reporters on Monday. "The bullet lodged in his brain and for someone to survive that is a miracle." But the unlikely story of survival was just one event in a six-day string of carnage, which included the killing of Rich Choup. Trail bike riders found the 32-year-old's remains on August 21, 2024 at Lucas Heights, in Sydney's south. He had been shot and had the top of one ear severed, an autopsy found. Police believe Mr Choup was a member of the drug-trafficking syndicate but had fallen foul of its higher-ups. CCTV footage released by police showed a man slap the victim across the face, but he did not resist or attempt to flee. Mr Choup was reported missing days later. His body was not found for weeks, but police believe he was murdered shortly after his disappearance. In a third incident, a 31-year-old was allegedly kidnapped from southwest Sydney. He also had part of his ear cut off before being released. He did not report the matter to police, but months later officers raided the Canley Vale property where the alleged torture took place. "Unfortunately, it's been seen quite often now that part of their torturing technique is to sever ears and fingers and toes," Det Supt Doueihi said. While the exact nature of the dispute was yet to be determined, it might relate to missing drugs or money. "If I was a betting man, that's what I would say the situation was," Det Supt Doueihi said. Police have released CCTV of three cars allegedly involved in the incidents, including a grey Audi they think might have been used in the Sydney kidnapping along with the killing of Mr Choup. NSW Premier Chris Minns called the attackers "animals" and said the public was horrified by the crimes. "There is absolutely no tolerance for this kind of shocking violent behaviour (but) police have got a good record of smashing up organised crime and violent gangs," he said.
Perth Now
07-07-2025
- Perth Now
Servo clip has to be seen to be believed
A man who was shot in the eye and buried alive is alleged to be one of the victims of a 'contract crew' wanted for questioning after a six-day crime spree across several states. Police believe a Victorian drug trafficking syndicate may be linked to the three incidents that occurred within a six-day period mid last year. The first incident occurred about 5am on July 21 last year when a 23-year-old man wandered into a service station in Jimboomba, Queensland, covered in dirt with a bullet wound through his head. 'Police believe the man was shot and buried, with those responsible likely unaware he crawled out of his shallow grave to seek help a short time later,' a police statement said. 'Although the man asked staff not to call emergency services, he collapsed shortly after, prompting them to seek help. CCTV shows the man entering the Queensland service station with a bullet wound through his eye before collapsing. NSW Police Credit: Supplied 'The 23-year-old man was taken to hospital where it was established he had been shot through the eye and had a bullet lodged in his brain.' Two days earlier in Canley Vale, Sydney police believe a 31-year old man was kidnapped and tortured and had part of his ear severed before being released later the same day. The incident wasn't reported to police; however, when detectives executed a search warrant on the property where the man was believed to have been held, they discovered the box cutter they believe was used to sever his ear. The third incident involved the discovery of the remains of 32-year-old Rich 'Dylan' Choup in bushland off Sydney's south. Bushland in Sydney's south where the remains of Rich Choup were found. NSW Police Credit: Supplied 'A post-mortem confirmed Mr Choup had been fatally shot and that the top of his right ear had been severed,' the police statement continued. 'Mr Choup was last seen about 6.10pm on Thursday 25 July 2024 in Cabramatta, where he told friends he had a meeting and asked they wait nearby. 'About 6.25pm, CCTV captured Mr Choup meeting with a man on Railway Parade who appeared to reprimand and slap him.' Although Mr Choup was reported missing on Monday, July 29, 2024, it wasn't until about 4.40pm on Saturday, August 31, 2024, that officers attached to Sutherland Shire Police Area Command were called to bushland off Heathcote Rd at Lucas Heights after reports trail bike riders discovered human remains. Mr Choup and the man who slapped him were seen walking towards a grey Audi SQ2. NSW Police Credit: Supplied The remains were later confirmed to be those of Mr Choup. Links to drug syndicate revealed Speaking to reporters on Monday morning, Detective Superintendent Joseph Doueihi said police believed Mr Choup was an employee of the Victorian drug trafficking syndicate and had 'fallen foul' for some reason. 'We don't have the exact details - that is also part of our appeal today, is to establish what the exact motive may have been,' he said. 'In relation to that, we believe the kidnapping of the first male is also linked to a drug trafficking syndicate and something that's gone wrong within that trafficking syndicate. 'In relation to the attempted murder of the man in Queensland, that unfortunately is not that clear - it remains unclear at the moment, the exact motive, but there is a possibility that that also is linked to (it).' He said the CCTV footage of Mr Choup being slapped by another man demonstrated the 'level of hierarchy' within the syndicate. Superintendent Doueihi said it was unclear whether the man who was shot and buried alive in Queensland was also linked to the drug syndicate. NewsWire / John Appleyard Credit: News Corp Australia 'For Mr Choup just to sit there and be slapped in public would suggest to me that that person that was speaking to him holds a much higher position in that organisation than he did,' he said. 'There was no resistance there, there was no attempt to flee, there was no attempt to strike back. So, it was quite evident from that footage that Mr Choup was in fear of that person.' Superintendent Doueihi said it had been seen often that part of the syndicate's 'torturing technique' involved severing hostages' ears, fingers, and toes to try to get the information they wanted. 'I don't know - well, we don't know what the exact nature of the dispute was here,' he said. 'It may be a case of missing drugs or missing money. If I was a betting man, that's what I would say the situation was. '(It's) an absolute high level of violence. It's unfortunate that we are seeing this high level of violence. 'And these are linked to these organised crime drug trafficking groups, who we believe majority are from an Asian background.' Superintendent Doueihi said the surviving victims were talking to police to 'a certain extent', but were not fully cooperating. He told reporters it was believed the contract crew remained in Australia. Clues in CCTV footage As part of the ongoing investigations, police have released CCTV and images and are appealing to those who may have information to contact law enforcement. CCTV from a roadhouse in Nambucca Heads on the NSW Mid North Coast about 5.30am on July 20, 2024 shows a white Hyundai Getz. Four male passengers are also captured on CCTV. One is believed to be the victim, who police suggest was picked up in NSW and driven to Queensland where his attempted murder took place. In relation to the kidnapping, vision shows an image of the boxcutter police allege was used to sever the man's ear, as well as CCTV of two vehicles travelling in convoy at the intersection of Freeman Ave and Sackville St in Canley Vale around the time of the incident. The boxcutter police allege was used to sever the ear of a man on Friday 19 July, Mr Choup was found with a similar injury. NSW Police Credit: Supplied The vehicles are described as a dark-coloured Audi SQ2 and a white Volkswagen Golf. In relation to Mr Choup's murder, CCTV also captures Mr Choup and the man who slapped him walking towards a grey Audi SQ2. Police believe this may be the same vehicle used in the kidnapping in Canley Vale a week earlier. Detectives have also released CCTV of a white Lexus and white Audi RS3. The two males captured in the CCTV, seen allegedly moving the vehicles before and after Mr Choup's disappearance, are also of interest to police. Strike Force Hallet has been established to investigate the slew of incidents and anyone with information about the vehicles or the men in the CCTV are urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
The Advertiser
07-07-2025
- The Advertiser
Detectives hunt for contract killer crew behind kidnapping, torture and murder
An alleged contract killer crew, accused of shooting a man in the eye and leaving him to die in a shallow grave, is wanted by police. The crew allegedly murdered a man in 2024, Rich 'Dylan' Choup, and detectives believe the members may be connected to a six-day spree of violent crimes. Police allege the violent crimes, including kidnapping and torture, could be linked to a Victorian drug trafficking syndicate. A man in Sydney's southwest was kidnapped on July 19, 2024, and tortured in a Canley Vale property, police said. The 31-year-old man's ear was allegedly severed before he was released by his kidnappers later on the same day. Almost three months later, on October 10, detectives executed a search warrant at the property, and a box cutter was seized for forensic examination. A man, who was covered in dirt and blood, collapsed inside a service station on Tamborine Street in Jimboomba, Queensland, on July 21, 2024, police said. The 23-year-old man walked into the service station at 5am. He asked the staff not to call emergency services before he collapsed. The man had been shot in the eye, and a bullet was lodged in his brain, medical staff discovered after he was rushed to the hospital. Police believe the man was shot and buried, with "those responsible likely unaware he crawled out of his shallow grave to seek help a short time later". Detectives have identified four male passengers on CCTV footage at a roadhouse in Nambucca on the NSW Mid North Coast from July 20, a day before the alleged attempted murder. The group was spotted in a white Hyundai Getz. One of the men is believed to be the victim, and detectives believe he may have been picked up in NSW and driven to Queensland. The contract crew is also alleged to have murdered 32-year-old Rich 'Dylan' Choup. Mr Choup was last seen alive by friends in Cabramatta, Sydney at 6.10pm on July 25. He told friends that he had a meeting and asked them to wait nearby. CCTV footage captured Mr Choup meeting with a man on Railway Parade, "who appeared to reprimand and slap him," police said. Mr Choup was reported missing four days later, on July 29. On August 31, trail bike riders discovered Mr Choup's remains in bushland off Heathcote Road at Lucas Heights. A post-mortem confirmed Mr Choup had been fatally shot and that the top of his right ear had been severed. Police have released images of cars associated with the contract crew including a grey Audi SQ2, a white Lexus and white Audi RS3. Anyone with information about the vehicles or the men in the CCTV are urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. An alleged contract killer crew, accused of shooting a man in the eye and leaving him to die in a shallow grave, is wanted by police. The crew allegedly murdered a man in 2024, Rich 'Dylan' Choup, and detectives believe the members may be connected to a six-day spree of violent crimes. Police allege the violent crimes, including kidnapping and torture, could be linked to a Victorian drug trafficking syndicate. A man in Sydney's southwest was kidnapped on July 19, 2024, and tortured in a Canley Vale property, police said. The 31-year-old man's ear was allegedly severed before he was released by his kidnappers later on the same day. Almost three months later, on October 10, detectives executed a search warrant at the property, and a box cutter was seized for forensic examination. A man, who was covered in dirt and blood, collapsed inside a service station on Tamborine Street in Jimboomba, Queensland, on July 21, 2024, police said. The 23-year-old man walked into the service station at 5am. He asked the staff not to call emergency services before he collapsed. The man had been shot in the eye, and a bullet was lodged in his brain, medical staff discovered after he was rushed to the hospital. Police believe the man was shot and buried, with "those responsible likely unaware he crawled out of his shallow grave to seek help a short time later". Detectives have identified four male passengers on CCTV footage at a roadhouse in Nambucca on the NSW Mid North Coast from July 20, a day before the alleged attempted murder. The group was spotted in a white Hyundai Getz. One of the men is believed to be the victim, and detectives believe he may have been picked up in NSW and driven to Queensland. The contract crew is also alleged to have murdered 32-year-old Rich 'Dylan' Choup. Mr Choup was last seen alive by friends in Cabramatta, Sydney at 6.10pm on July 25. He told friends that he had a meeting and asked them to wait nearby. CCTV footage captured Mr Choup meeting with a man on Railway Parade, "who appeared to reprimand and slap him," police said. Mr Choup was reported missing four days later, on July 29. On August 31, trail bike riders discovered Mr Choup's remains in bushland off Heathcote Road at Lucas Heights. A post-mortem confirmed Mr Choup had been fatally shot and that the top of his right ear had been severed. Police have released images of cars associated with the contract crew including a grey Audi SQ2, a white Lexus and white Audi RS3. Anyone with information about the vehicles or the men in the CCTV are urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. An alleged contract killer crew, accused of shooting a man in the eye and leaving him to die in a shallow grave, is wanted by police. The crew allegedly murdered a man in 2024, Rich 'Dylan' Choup, and detectives believe the members may be connected to a six-day spree of violent crimes. Police allege the violent crimes, including kidnapping and torture, could be linked to a Victorian drug trafficking syndicate. A man in Sydney's southwest was kidnapped on July 19, 2024, and tortured in a Canley Vale property, police said. The 31-year-old man's ear was allegedly severed before he was released by his kidnappers later on the same day. Almost three months later, on October 10, detectives executed a search warrant at the property, and a box cutter was seized for forensic examination. A man, who was covered in dirt and blood, collapsed inside a service station on Tamborine Street in Jimboomba, Queensland, on July 21, 2024, police said. The 23-year-old man walked into the service station at 5am. He asked the staff not to call emergency services before he collapsed. The man had been shot in the eye, and a bullet was lodged in his brain, medical staff discovered after he was rushed to the hospital. Police believe the man was shot and buried, with "those responsible likely unaware he crawled out of his shallow grave to seek help a short time later". Detectives have identified four male passengers on CCTV footage at a roadhouse in Nambucca on the NSW Mid North Coast from July 20, a day before the alleged attempted murder. The group was spotted in a white Hyundai Getz. One of the men is believed to be the victim, and detectives believe he may have been picked up in NSW and driven to Queensland. The contract crew is also alleged to have murdered 32-year-old Rich 'Dylan' Choup. Mr Choup was last seen alive by friends in Cabramatta, Sydney at 6.10pm on July 25. He told friends that he had a meeting and asked them to wait nearby. CCTV footage captured Mr Choup meeting with a man on Railway Parade, "who appeared to reprimand and slap him," police said. Mr Choup was reported missing four days later, on July 29. On August 31, trail bike riders discovered Mr Choup's remains in bushland off Heathcote Road at Lucas Heights. A post-mortem confirmed Mr Choup had been fatally shot and that the top of his right ear had been severed. Police have released images of cars associated with the contract crew including a grey Audi SQ2, a white Lexus and white Audi RS3. Anyone with information about the vehicles or the men in the CCTV are urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. An alleged contract killer crew, accused of shooting a man in the eye and leaving him to die in a shallow grave, is wanted by police. The crew allegedly murdered a man in 2024, Rich 'Dylan' Choup, and detectives believe the members may be connected to a six-day spree of violent crimes. Police allege the violent crimes, including kidnapping and torture, could be linked to a Victorian drug trafficking syndicate. A man in Sydney's southwest was kidnapped on July 19, 2024, and tortured in a Canley Vale property, police said. The 31-year-old man's ear was allegedly severed before he was released by his kidnappers later on the same day. Almost three months later, on October 10, detectives executed a search warrant at the property, and a box cutter was seized for forensic examination. A man, who was covered in dirt and blood, collapsed inside a service station on Tamborine Street in Jimboomba, Queensland, on July 21, 2024, police said. The 23-year-old man walked into the service station at 5am. He asked the staff not to call emergency services before he collapsed. The man had been shot in the eye, and a bullet was lodged in his brain, medical staff discovered after he was rushed to the hospital. Police believe the man was shot and buried, with "those responsible likely unaware he crawled out of his shallow grave to seek help a short time later". Detectives have identified four male passengers on CCTV footage at a roadhouse in Nambucca on the NSW Mid North Coast from July 20, a day before the alleged attempted murder. The group was spotted in a white Hyundai Getz. One of the men is believed to be the victim, and detectives believe he may have been picked up in NSW and driven to Queensland. The contract crew is also alleged to have murdered 32-year-old Rich 'Dylan' Choup. Mr Choup was last seen alive by friends in Cabramatta, Sydney at 6.10pm on July 25. He told friends that he had a meeting and asked them to wait nearby. CCTV footage captured Mr Choup meeting with a man on Railway Parade, "who appeared to reprimand and slap him," police said. Mr Choup was reported missing four days later, on July 29. On August 31, trail bike riders discovered Mr Choup's remains in bushland off Heathcote Road at Lucas Heights. A post-mortem confirmed Mr Choup had been fatally shot and that the top of his right ear had been severed. Police have released images of cars associated with the contract crew including a grey Audi SQ2, a white Lexus and white Audi RS3. Anyone with information about the vehicles or the men in the CCTV are urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
West Australian
07-07-2025
- West Australian
Rich ‘Dylan' Choup: Manhunt for ‘contract crew' over alleged murder, torture and kidnappings
The last moments of a man later found brutally murdered have been captured on CCTV, released by police investigating a 'contract crew' believed to be behind six-days of violent carnage. Rich 'Dylan' Choup, whose body was found with a gunshot wound and his ear severed by trail bikers in August 2024, can be seen being slapped in the face in a chilling confrontation with an unknown man. Police believe the father is one of at least three victims of a violent gang of offenders with links to a Victorian drug trafficking syndicate whose reign of terror spanned two states. Strike Force Hallet, set up to investigate Mr Choup's death, is also investigating the kidnapping and torture of a man in Canley Vale, and the attempted murder of another man in Queensland. Vision of multiple men, including of one who was shot through his eye and buried, various cars and even a box cutter was released on Monday as police try to hunt down those responsible. Police believe a 31-year-old man was tortured and had part of his ear severed after he was kidnapped from south west Sydney on July 19, 2024 'Although the incident was not reported to police, detectives executed a crime scene warrant on Thursday 10 October 2024 at a Canley Vale property where the man is believed to have been held,' a police statement read. 'During the search, police located a box cutter which was seized for further forensic analysis.' Police have released an image of the boxcutter they believe was used in the torture incident and CCTV of two vehicles captured on CCTV driving in convoy at the intersection of Freeman Avenue and Sackville Street in Canley Vale around the time of the incident. The vehicles are described as a dark-coloured Audi SQ2 and a white Volkswagen Golf. A 23-year-old man was found with a gunshot wound to his eye, with the bullet lodged in his brain. The alarm was raised about 5am on July 21, 2024 after the man, covered in dirt, stumbled into a service station in Jimboomba, about an hour north east of the Gold Coast. The man had asked staff not to call emergency services but collapsed shortly after, prompting them to seek help. Police believe the man was shot and buried, with those responsible likely unaware he crawled out of his shallow grave to seek help a short time later. As investigations continue, police have released CCTV of a white Hyundai Getz seen at a roadhouse in Nambucca on the Mid North Coast about 5.30am on 20 July, 2024 – the day before the attempted murder. Four male passengers are captured on CCTV, one is believed to be the victim, leading police to believe he may have been picked up in NSW and driven to Queensland where his attempted murder took place. Mr Choup was last seen about 6.10pm on July 25, 2024 in Cabramatta. He had told friends he was goinf to a meeting and aksed friends to stay nearby. About 6.25pm, CCTV captured Mr Choup meeting with a man on Railway Parade, who appeared to reprimand and slap him. Both men are then seen walking towards a grey Audi SQ2. As inquiries continue, police have released CCTV of the grey Audi SQ2, possibly the same vehicle used in the kidnapping in Canley Vale a week earlier. Detectives have also released CCTV of a white Lexus and white Audi RS3. Police say two males captured in the CCTV, seen allegedly moving the vehicles before and after Mr Choup's disappearance are also wanted for questioning. Anyone with information about the vehicles or the men in the CCTV are urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
