Man arrested over fatal shooting in Sydney apartment building

A man has been arrested over a shooting in a western Sydney apartment building that killed one person and wounded another in an attack believed to be gangland-linked.

A group of heavyset men dressed in black opened fire and killed a man in a unit on Shale Street, Lidcombe, at about 4am on Monday.

A 38-year-old man died at Westmead Hospital after being treated by paramedics for gunshot wounds. The second man was assaulted at the scene and taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Police arrested a man in Ryde about noon on Monday, and took him to Gladesville police station, where he is assisting with inquiries.

Police, who are appealing to residents who they say might have seen or heard something, are investigating potential links to organised crime, Superintendent Robert Toynton said.

“This is not a random attack,” he said.

“From what we’ve discovered so far, there are strong links to organised crime in relation to this homicide.”

The shooting took place inside a unit on a high-density residential street bordering Accor Stadium in Sydney Olympic Park.

A crime scene has been declared as police investigate, appealing for information from the public.

“Someone must have seen something. Someone must have heard something. Someone must have seen a car, or these offenders leaving on foot,” Toynton said.

Some residents leaving the area on Monday told media they heard a loud bang in the early hours of the morning.

One resident told the Herald they thought the emergency vehicles rushing to the scene were responding to a fire.

“I see a lot of ‘druggie’ types coming and going … always someone suss in and out of the building,” the resident said.

Detectives were directing investigations outside the complex, where officers were seen carrying large bags away from the scene.

Police are looking for several people believed to be involved, as well as investigating what led to the shooting.

“The persons of interest are described as being quite heavyset males, all in black clothing,” Toynton said.

The latest Sydney shooting comes after two men were taken to hospital after a brawl ended in gunfire at Chester Hill on Thursday night.

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