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FORMER bikie boss Mahmoud “Mick” Hawi has been shot in the carpark of a Fitness First gym in Sydney’s south.
Hawi, 37, is on life support but has been declared brain dead. It is believed Hawi suffered multiple heart attacks after being shot.
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Police and paramedics were called to the premises in Botany Rd, Rockdale, just after midday after reports a man had been shot.
Hawi was originally found guilty of murder, but his conviction was overturned on appeal and he plead guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter.
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About 12.10 this afternoon, NSW Ambulance paramedics responded to reports of a man with a gunshot wound in Rockdale.
NSW Ambulance Superintendent Greg Price said the man was in cardiac arrest when paramedics arrived.
“Four paramedic units were on scene within seven minutes,” Supt Price said.
“The patient was transported to hospital within six minutes from arrival on scene.
“The scene was very confronting for emergency service personnel. The paramedics performed their role to a high standard.”
A team of up to six forensic scientists worked on the scene, focusing mainly on the driver’s side of the black Mercedes 4WD, under the wheels of the passenger side and the entrance to the gym directly adjacent to the car.
Particular time and attention was also placed on photographing an unknown piece of evidence about five metres in front of the vehicle.
A number of shell casings were visible alongside up to 14 forensics markers scattered around the car and beside the entry point.
A gym bag lay strewn against the front wheel on the driver’s side with a number of other items scattered nearby.
A towel also laid across the bonnet of the 4WD but it is unknown whether it belonged to the former bikie boss or another gym member who came to his aid.
Burnt-out car found near scene
Police are investigating if a car destroyed by fire only a kilometre from the shooting is linked. Firefighters were called to Chandler St, Kogarah, at 12.10pm.
A NSW Fire and Rescue spokeswoman said fire also damaged a nearby garage.
Police are maintaining a strong presence outside St George Hospital Emergency with numerous public order and riot officers in attendance.
Police were stopping every car entering the emergency carpark and speaking with the driver.
A group of six public order and riot squad officers are guarding the emergency ambulance bay as family and friends continue to arrive at the hospital where Hawi is on life support.
A teenage boy who claimed he was Hawi’s son turned up to the scene just after 3pm.
The distraught young man was comforted by friends as he paced the scene.
“Do you know who that is? It’s my dad,” he told reporters before getting in a car with his girlfriend and her mother and leaving.
About 3.15pm police officers were seen escorting two young men away from the hospital entrance.
They both appeared upset as police talked to them for several minutes near the entrance to the emergency carpark for several minutes.
Police were on high-alert outside the hospital even stopping a motorcyclist in high-vis construction work clothes who happened to be passing the hospital.
The rider was subjected to a pat down and a bag search with officers conducting a detailed inspection of his motorbike.
Officers later issued the rider with a defect notice forcing the rider to push his motorbike away from the scene.
The rider, who was sporting a one per cent tattoo a common tattoo among outlaw motorcycle gangs, shook hands and spoke to four other men who later entered the hospital.
Witness heard ‘four bangs’
Owner of IYN Physiotherapy Reshan Mutukrishna said he heard at least “four bangs” just after 12pm but didn’t take any notice as the gymgoers “liked to get attention”.
“We heard a loud bang, bangs repetitively — I just thought it was someone dropping the weights in the gym as you would expect,” he said.
“Then I heard a lot of commotion, a lot of screaming, a lot of shouting but I didn’t take too much notice I thought maybe someone had fallen in the gym.”
The physiotherapist went outside and saw a crowd had already gathered to attend to the wounded man with emergency services arriving and the gym “going into lockdown”.
Mr Mutukrishna said “Mick” was a regular at the gym and that his colleague had treated him previously, but that he didn’t know him personally.
“It’s shocking. It’s sad, I guess, but it’s not surprising,” he said.
Hawi jailed over airport brawl
Hawi was released from prison in 2015 after being imprisoned in 2012 for his role in the Sydney Airport brawl in which rival bikie Anthony Zervas was beaten to death in the domestic departures hall.
He was released after a board approved his parole based on his “satisfactory prison performance”.
Conditions of his bail included him not associating with outlaw motorcycle gangs, or frequenting bikie-owned premises.
He was also not to possess a firearm or use illegal drugs.
Hawi began his relationship with his wife, Carolina Gonzales, in 1995 while they were both still at school. In 2002 they were married and have two sons together.
Their second son was born shortly after Hawi was arrested for murder and remanded in custody.
Prior to his incarceration they were living together at their home at Bexley.
A Fitness First spokesman said: “Fitness First is aware that a shooting occurred in the car park outside its Rockdale gym this morning, Thursday 15 February. We are fully complying with the police investigation and as a result we have closed this facility until further notice. Due to the nature of the ongoing investigation we are unable to provide further details at this time. Our priority is ensuring our staff and members are provided the right support at this time.”