3 months ago
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Police believe a sophisticated underworld crew operating out of NSW is responsible for the targeted murder of a young gangster in Melbourne’s northern suburbs earlier this year.
Athan Boursinos, 21, was shot dead in a laneway behind his family home in Wollert, shortly before he was due to attend Heidelberg Magistrates’ Court over drug, weapons and driving offences.
Athan Boursinos was gunned down in a laneway behind his family home in Wollert in July.
Boursinos was part of a street crew controlled by illicit tobacco mogul Kazem Hamad and his cousin, suspected drug trafficker Ahmed Al Hamza, The Age has previously reported.
On Friday morning, police said the fatal shooting was ordered by a NSW crime syndicate whose members had travelled down to Melbourne just days earlier.
The men allegedly shot Boursinos, then fled in a stolen Nissan Patrol before transferring into a stolen Volkswagen Golf. They then set the Volkswagen on fire and changed cars again into a BMW.
Police are yet to determine a motive for the killing but are probing Boursinos’ organised crime connections.
Boursinos was recruited to Hamad and Al Hamza’s street crew in his late teens. In 2022, police intelligence identified him as part of a gang linked to drive-by-shootings, home invasions and violent assaults.
Police want to speak to this man about the death of Athan Boursinos. Credit: Victoria Police
Police have now released CCTV footage of two men they believe were involved.
“We are still working to establish the possible motive, although we have several lines of enquiry underway. Athan’s various connections to organised crime add a greater level of complexity to the investigation,” said Detective Acting Superintendent Mark Hatt.
Police would also like to speak to this man over the death.Credit: Victoria Police
“If you believe you have any information relating to the men who may have travelled down from New South Wales to carry out this murder, now is the time to speak up.”
Images of the crime scene show the victim’s body on the ground next to a grey 2018 BMW coupe.
Two bullet holes appear to have pierced the open door of the vehicle. Shattered glass from a broken window covered the ground near the car.
With Marta Pascual Juanola
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