An underworld figure has narrowly escaped death for the third time in five years after he was shot four times in an apparently botched hit on Wednesday night, and the gunman fled the scene.
Vailena Koloamatangi, 28, was found with four gunshot wounds about 10.50pm in Winston Hills, near Parramatta, in Sydney’s west.
At least eight shots were fired, four of which hit Koloamatangi in the chest, arm and leg.
He was rushed to hospital in a serious but stable condition and placed under police guard, according to New South Wales Police.
The gunman fled the scene in a jeep, which was then set alight in Northmead at around 11pm to destroy forensic evidence. Despite the efforts of firefighters, the SUV was completely destroyed.
This is not the first attempt on Koloamatangi’s life.
In 2023, he was shot in the head and chest in the basement of an apartment block on Canterbury Road and nearly died in hospital as a result of his injuries.
Shortly after that attack, three stolen vehicles were discovered burnt out in the suburbs of Kingsgrove, Berala and Birrong.
Another failed attack took place in 2020. At the time, Koloamatangi was sitting in a Toyota Camry with his school friend Hasan Gotkas when two men opened fire, wounding Gotkas.
Vailena Koloamatangi, 28, was found with gunshot wounds about 10.50pm on Wednesday in Winston Hills, near Parramatta, in the city’s west.
Police officers are seen at the scene of the shooting early Thursday morning.
Wednesday’s shooting comes just a week after a rapper was charged with murder after he allegedly stabbed a man outside a Guzman y Gomez restaurant in Sydney.
Jacob Tammer-Spence, 30, allegedly murdered Sitaleki ‘Leki’ Filihiahekava, 32, outside the restaurant in the outback suburb of Marrickville at around 7.40pm last Monday, while he was dining with his family.
Police believe the alleged stabbing was a targeted attack and are investigating possible links to organized crime.
A man fired two weapons at Koloamatangi up to 12 times in 2023
Vailena Koloamatangi was rushed to hospital clinging to life after being shot in the head and chest in 2023.
Sydney was hit by dozens of retaliatory gangland shootings starting in 2020, fueled by a war between rival criminal organisations.
The public attacks included five targeted shootings over a week in mid-July.
However, violence had recently subsided following a series of arrests that investigators said helped dismantle one of the main gangs involved.