Posted by 
A warrant has been issued for a man wanted over the alleged mistaken-identity murder of a Sydney man, hours after police investigating the death charged eight alleged members of a crime gang.
Ahmed Al Azzam, 25, was found with critical injuries in a car in the south-west suburb of Greenacre on July 23 and later died in hospital.
A 22-year-old man who today still suffers from "life-altering" spinal injuries and a 19-year-old woman were found injured in a separate vehicle.
Detective Chief Superintendent Jason Weinstein said the alleged crime was "one of the most callous" he had seen in his 28 years on the job.
Marko Saric, 24, and two other men, 39 and 25 – who were already in the Parklea Correctional Centre – were charged with murder yesterday.
The other five arrested in the same series of coordinated dawn raids across Sydney and on the Central Coast were accused of a range of offences including gang-related charges and accessory before the fact to murder.
Police allege the man who actually shot Al Azzam has been identified and is overseas.
"To the person who pulled the trigger in this murder: we are closing in on you as we speak," Weinstein said yesterday.
Last night, police issued an arrest warrant for Anthony Pele, 22, in relation to the Greenacre shooting.
They said he was wanted "in relation to alleged serious and violent offences" and believed to be overseas.
Police allege all three victims were targeted by the Haouchar crime group in a case of mistaken identity.
Detective Chief Superintendent Jason Weinstein alleged they believed members of the Comanchero crime group were planning to attack them and killed Al Azzam without confirming he was part of the group.
He was not and had never been affiliated with any crime group, police said.
"They are not connected in any way, shape or form to any criminal activity in their lifetime," Weinstein alleged while addressing the media yesterday.
"Al Azzam was approached by a stolen vehicle … [and] without any interaction between the two vehicles … a large number of rounds were fired into the car.
"They willingly and callously fired and killed that male. It's one of the most callous crimes I have seen in my 28 years investigating crime."
Police are working to find out which country the alleged shooter is in.
"Investigators are confident that we've identified the shooter; we are not alleging anyone arrested today was the shooter," Detective Acting Superintendent Virginia Gorman said yesterday.
"He needs to come home and face the consequences of his actions."
Among the others charged yesterday after raids in Drummoyne, Wattle Grove, Miller, Homebush West, Moorebank and Gorokan were Punipuao Afamasaga, 21; Joshua Jazz Pele, 25; and Ayman Manly, 40.
Manly, who is facing gun and drug charges and accused of possessing an encrypted device to commit serious criminal activity, was the only one to apply for bail.
He was released on a list of strict conditions including a $50,000 bond, handing over his passport and a ban on using any encrypted messaging apps such as Whatsapp and Snapchat.
Afamasaga faced court on 13 criminal-group-related offences including gun and drug charges and Joshua Pele was charged with taking or detaining in company with intent to get advantage occasioning actual bodily harm, and participating in a criminal group.
The 39- and 25-year-old men charged with murder are due in court tomorrow, along with a 27-year-old man charged with accessory before the fact to murder and participate in a criminal group and a 25-year-old accused of taking or detained in company with intent to get advantage occasioning actual bodily harm, and participating in a criminal group.
Police are appealing for help to find Anthony Pele and continuing inquiries under Strike Force Alpina and Task Force Magnus.
