27-05-2025
Alameddine crime gang associate Darwood Zakaria, 32, dies after being shot in car while on Granville road in Sydney's west
An alleged Alameddine associate has died after being shot in the head while sat in a car on a busy major road in Sydney's west over the weekend.
Passenger Darwood Zakaria, 32, was one of four men in a Toyota Hilux waiting at traffic lights on Woodville Road in Granville when occupants of a Mercedes Benz emerged and fired at least seven shots into the vehicle on Sunday about 5.10pm.
Driver and lawyer Sylvan Singh, 25, desperately tried to escape and drove towards Parramatta before he stopped the car on Church St, near the M4 Motorway offramp.
Paramedics treated Zakaria, who was in a critical condition with a gunshot wound to the head, and Mr Singh after he had been struck in the arm and shoulder.
The 32-year-old was rushed to Westmead Hospital where he underwent surgery.
NSW Police confirmed on Tuesday that Zakaria had died.
Mr Singh remains in a stable condition.
Fellow accused Alameddine associate Samimjan Azari - and another man named Levi Vitukawalu, 28 - were in the back seat of the Hilux and not injured in the shooting.
The series of shootings in Sydney has sparked fears of an all-out gangland war.
Police confirmed on Tuesday it is responding to the rise of shooting incidents with the creation of Taskforce Falcon comprising of 150 officers to help "suppress violent crime".
The State Crime Command and NSW Crime Commission will take charge of the taskforce to investigate public place shootings, arson attacks and kidnappings.
They will look into 11 incidents dating back to December 2024.
It includes at least six public place shootings across Sydney, arsons at barbershops and the two shooting murders of John Versace, 23, who was set upon by a gunman in Condell Park, and David Khou, 31, gunned down outside his Canley Heights home.
Strike Forces Sherringham and Kersley will also probe "the criminality of members and associates of a high-profile OCN".
NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley described the uptick in violent crime in the city as "horrific", saying those responsible will be tracked down by the police.
"We won't tolerate these lawless thugs playing out their vendettas in our communities. When innocent people get caught up in them and are made to suffer it's sickening and barbaric. Public safety is the number one priority of the NSW government and our police," she said.
"We all have the right to live our lives in our communities safe from these brazen criminals."
NSW Police Deputy Commissioner David Hudson said incorporating the 13 taskforces under one banner will strengthen the force's ability to crack down on crime.
'By consolidating these strike forces, we can more efficiently make or discount connections between them, as opposed to spending lengthy amounts of time trying to determine links where none exist. That's a smarter and faster way to deliver results for the people of NSW," he said.
'We also recognise that preventing harm is just as important as solving it, and Taskforce Falcon will have a proactive arm dedicated to ensuring we are applying the full force of available laws to stop violent crime before it happens."
The police will also use moves such as high-visibility policing, disruption tactics and targeted enforcement – to shut down criminal activity "at the earliest opportunity".
