Former UFC fighter Soman Mkhitaryan has been shot dead in a “targeted attack” in Sydney, police said

Former UFC fighter Soman Mkhitaryan has been shot dead in a “brazen” shooting as he walked early in the evening in Sydney, months after surviving an assassination attempt, police said.

New South Wales Police said the 33-year-old was shot dead in a “targeted” attack in the suburb of Riverstone, northwest of Sydney, on Wednesday evening. He was treated by paramedics but died at the scene. The police said.

Shortly after the shooting, two cars were found on fire in two different locations, a hallmark of recent organized crime attacks that have rocked the city. Police said that fire and rescue crews extinguished the fire.

“It’s absolutely rude and shameful that this is happening in our community,” NSW Police Superintendent Jason Joyce said.

He added: “You would like to think that in a residential area people could be walking around the streets at that time (early) at night and be safe, but we believe it was a targeted attack.”

Screenshots have been obtained National broadcaster ABC shows the moments after a gunman opened fire on Mokhtaryan. ABC reported that several gunshots could be heard when a young child was seen standing in a corridor just yards from where Mokhtaryan was killed.

Local media reported that Mokhtaryan survived an assassination attempt last February, when a gunman shot him outside a gym in western Sydney.

He fought twice in the UFC tournament, in 2018 and 2019, and lost both times, before moving to the field of training. According to ESPN.

The website said he helped develop some of Australia’s best mixed martial arts players.

A local resident, who identified himself only by his first name, Ben, said he was walking with his wife when he heard a gunshot.

“At that time we also heard an explosion and a lot of smoke billowing into the air… that could have been the car,” he told the Sydney Morning Herald.

“There was a huge uproar, and a lot of people were shocked because they had never seen anything like this before.”

“The shooting happened while the children were riding bikes in the park.”

Neighbor Natalie, who did not give her last name, said she was outside her home with her children when the accident happened.

“I called the police immediately.” she said ABC National Radio.

Natalie said she ran to see if Mokhtaryan was alive, but “he clearly wasn’t.”

“I could tell right away he wasn’t alive, otherwise I would have tried to help him,” she said.

The killing came a day after police thwarted a “hit team” carrying firearms, masks, cameras and sheets on their way to a day care centre.

Police are investigating whether the two incidents are related.

Deaths by shooting in Australia Rare.

A 1996 massacre In Port Arthur, Tasmania, where a lone gunman killed 35 people, it prompted the government to dramatically tighten gun laws and make it harder for Australians to obtain firearms.