01-08-2025
Underworld figure's two-word taunt before being gunned down - as his prophetic tattoos are revealed
A man who was gunned down in a daylight shooting near his family home taunted his killer in his final moments.
Athan Boursinos, 21, was shot dead in a 'targeted' shooting near a kindergarten as he left his family home in Wollert, in Melbourne 's outer north, at 9am on Thursday.
Several neighbours claimed to have heard Mr Boursinos engaged in a verbal argument with his killer in the moments before he was peppered with bullets.
It's understood Mr Boursinos taunted his killer, urging him to 'do it' before he was shot dead, witnesses told The Herald Sun.
It comes as new photos emerged of Mr Boursinos showing the eerily prophetic tattoo he had etched on his neck.
'The souls I have taken will never haunt me. Only the ones I haven't,' the tattoo on the left side of his neck read.
The quote was also tattooed on the chest of murdered Sydney gangster Hamad 'the Executioner' Assaad.
His body was also covered in symbols and slogans associated with criminal organisations from around the world.
Wedged between a large cross on his chest and a blade on his torso, Mr Boursinos had the word 'Omerta' tattooed.
Omerta is a word used to describe the code of silence, particularly associated with the Mafia in Southern Italy.
In another photograph, a tattoo of an outlined teardrop can be seen underneath one of Mr Boursinos' eyes.
The teardrop symbol is common among American gang and prison culture and can represent several things, including acts of violence, loss of life, the taking of a life or even time served in jail.
Mr Boursinos also had the name of his fiancée, Sanaria Rofael, tattooed on his upper right arm in red capital letters.
Ms Rofael was seen sobbing at the scene, wearing a maroon tracksuit and holding a Fendi handbag while detectives began their investigation into the shooting.
In a heartbreaking tribute to her fiancé, Ms Rofael shared a carousel of images to Instagram just hours after his death.
'I miss you,' she captioned the post.
'I would do anything in this world to feel this with you again. I will never stop loving you, you showed me what love was. I love you so much. I will see you soon.
'You're the best person I have ever met with the best soul. I can't wait to see you and hold you again.'
Mr Boursinos was due to face court later that day regarding several lingering drug, weapon, theft and driving charges he had been facing.
The 21-year-old is also believed to have been an associate of underworld kingpin and exiled crime boss Kazem 'Kaz' Hamad.
It's understood Mr Boursinos was leaving his home to appear in court when he was ambushed near his BMW.
His body was found lying beside a grey BMW with the driver door open and the engine apparently still running.
A neighbour said her brother heard eight shots ring out and ran to see the man's last breaths before he died.
Prior to his execution, his killers reportedly planted a getaway car near his home at 4am on Thursday - just five hours before he was shot dead.
Homicide squad Detective Inspector Dean Thomas said police believed the gunman shot and killed Mr Boursinos in Game Lane before fleeing the scene in another vehicle.
'We also have reports of a vehicle being found burnt out in Amery Street in Reservoir,' Det Insp Thomas told reporters.
The getaway vehicle had been parked just in front of where the Nissan, which had been driven to Mr Boursinos' house, was torched.
Two hooded figures in black clothing were seen fleeing the scene immediately after setting the vehicle alight.
Homicide squad detectives have remained in the area and several crime scenes have been established.
Another vehicle was found with extensive fire damage three kilometres away but detectives have no reason to believe it is linked to the killing.
Any trace of evidence or fingerprints was unrecoverable from either car.
Mr Boursinos is suspected of being linked to the execution of underworld figure Sam 'The Punisher' Abdulrahim on January 28.
Detectives admitted Mr Boursinos' murder appeared to be 'very deliberate and obviously targeted' and that he had been 'known' to police before his death.
Independent journalist Ryan Naumenko's website Outlaw Media - which charts Melbourne's underworld crime news - labelled Thursday's murder a gangland hit.
'If the information I have is right... this will be bigger than World War 3,' he wrote.
Mr Boursinos' killers remain on the run.
