Sydney Teen Charged with Murder in Connection to Fatal Underworld Shooting
A 19-year-old man has been charged with murder and attempted murder in relation to the fatal shooting of 32-year-old Dawood Zakaria in Sydney’s west earlier this year.
Zakaria was shot multiple times while stopped at a traffic light in Granville in May.
Lawyer Sylvan Singh, who was also in the vehicle, was injured in the attack.
Two other occupants of the car were unharmed.
Taskforce Falcon Makes Significant Arrest
The arrest marks the first murder charge brought by NSW Police’s Taskforce Falcon, which was established to combat violent organised crime activity in Sydney.
The taskforce was launched in response to the growing trend of underworld violence in the city.
Detective Superintendent Jason Box described the arrest as significant, stating that the 19-year-old’s actions before, during, and after the shooting allegedly made him a principal player in the slaying.
The investigation is ongoing, with police still seeking to determine the full extent of the teenager’s involvement.
Incident Part of Broader Pattern of Underworld Violence
The shooting of Dawood Zakaria is one of at least 16 incidents with potential links to organised crime that have occurred in Sydney since the commencement of Taskforce Falcon.
The taskforce has already resulted in the arrest and charging of 13 members of an emerging criminal network in Sydney’s south-west, known as ‘G7’, who are alleged to be responsible for a string of public place shootings, home invasions, and motor vehicle thefts.
Superintendent Box has defended the police force’s efforts to combat organised crime, citing several recent arrests in connection with violent attacks.
However, he acknowledged that the ongoing violence is a concern, stating that the shooting of Dawood Zakaria could have resulted in multiple innocent victims.