source : the age
Two men who police say have possible links to organised crime have been shot after a brawl in south-west Sydney ended in gunfire, with one undergoing surgery.
Officers are probing how a planned meeting turned violent before emergency services were called to Boundary Road, Chester Hill, about 10.30pm on Thursday after reports of a brawl involving about 15 people.
But the group had left the scene before police arrived, with the fight ending after shots were fired.
Shortly after, police stopped a black Audi sedan and a Ford Raptor ute on nearby Ferndell Street, Guildford, after a short pursuit. Two men, aged 24 and 27, were found in the sedan suffering multiple gunshot wounds.
NSW Ambulance treated the men at the scene before they were taken to hospital.
A third man, who was driving the car, was spoken to by police but later allowed to leave.
No charges have been laid.
NSW Police Detective Acting Inspector Kaan McGregor said at least three shots were fired, and the two men hit were known to police.
“We have received some information indicating they have links to organised crime,” he said.
Police believe the brawling groups had planned to meet, but it is not yet clear how the interaction descended into violence.
“We’re not aware if this was a planned attack or something that evolved out of an argument that occurred at the scene,” McGregor said.
The younger man has been released from hospital, while the older man has undergone surgery on Friday, McGregor said.
Investigations into the incident are ongoing.
One witness told Nine News on Friday that he heard the shots ring out.
“I heard some gunshots, one at a time, and then a little bit later on heard some more gunshots,” he said.
“Obviously, you don’t feel safe … the streets of Sydney are getting a bit more dirty than usual.
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Jack Gramenz is a breaking news reporter at The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect via email.
