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A celebrity chauffeur has been killed sitting in his black Mercedes SUV in front of his young son in an early morning drive-by shooting outside a gym in Sydney‘s south-west.
Taha Sabbagh, 40, was shot dead outside the Elite Fight Force gym on Carlingford Street, in Sefton on Thursday morning at about 6.30am.
A witness heard at least ten shots fired and the sound of a car screeching away. Sabbagh had been dropping off his 12-year-old son to a personal training session at the gym.
A nearby worker later heard the child scream out for help as his dad lay on the street riddled with bullets.
Paramedics desperately tried to revive Mr Sabbagh, who was a common presence at the MMA gym. He was unable to be saved and died at the scene.
NSW Police Detective Superintendent Danny Doherty said detectives believe the shooting was a ‘targeted attack’.
‘He was not well known to police, he was associated with some people who are well known to police and have strong criminal activity connected to them,’ he told reporters.
Police are looking for two offenders who fired the shots out of a Mazda 3. The car was later found burnt out.
Mr Sabbagh was a top driver for several luxury chauffer services around Sydney, regularly ferrying high-level clients to meetings and cashed-up couples to weddings.
He once drove social media star Hasbulla and recently shared photos of MMA star Khabib Nurmagomedov and Logan Paul.
Taha Sabbagh, 40, (pictured left with social media star Hasbulla right) believed to be linked to a well known crime family, was shot dead outside the Elite Fight Force gym on Carlingford Street, in Sefton on Thursday morning at about 6.30am
Family members and friends flocked to the scene of the alleged crime in the hours after the shooting
The 40-year-old was shot dead outside Elite Fight Force gym on Carlingford Street, in Sefton on Thursday morning
Pictured are members of the Elite Fight Force martial arts gym in Sefton, in Sydney’s southwest
Mr Sabbagh recently shared a photo of children with Logan Paul to his Instagram
Mr Sabbagh is seen with MMA artist Khabib Nurmagomedov
‘He’s been with us since the start, almost four years now,’ the owner of one of the companies said.
‘He’s one of the best guys I know, always happy, always smiling.
‘He was our best, always opening the door, bringing an umbrella when it was raining – an all-round nice guy. It’s a tragedy.’
The businessman said Mr Sabbagh was so reliable he was trusted with the firm’s top clients, and couldn’t have been mixed up in organised crime.
‘It’s very shocking, we’d never expect anything like this to happen to someone like him,’ he said.
Daily Mail Australia understands friends fear Mr Sabbagh may have been accidentally targeted.
A police source gave a grim warning of further bloodshed on the streets of suburban Sydney following the shooting.
‘It will get much worse now after this. It always does,’ they said.
A friend of Mr Sabbagh, Mustafa Nashar, shared a heartfelt tribute to the 40-year-old: ‘(He was) a beautiful person who’s life was taken mistakenly and undeservedly.’
Another loved one said: ‘Taha was a loving son, brother, father, husband, he was loved by many. He will be missed greatly by all who knew him.’
Muslim preacher, Mohamed Shaar, said there had been ‘another soul killed right at our door step’.
‘Killed in front of his kid what a shame this world is so evil,’ he said.
Family members and friends flocked to the scene of the alleged crime in the hours after the shooting.
A witness, David, said he was in his workshop at the time when he heard about ten gunshots, which he initially thought was just a car backfiring.
‘Within minutes there was a load of ambulances and police everywhere and we saw a man on the ground not in a good way,’ he told Radio 2GB. ‘It was frightening.’
David said he initially heard about five loud bangs before hearing a car speed off. He then heard another series of shots.
A burnt-out car was found later on Thursday morning at the nearby Birrong train station.
Taha Sabbagh was gunned down in his car outside the gym on Thursday morning
Emergency services are seen outside the gym on Thursday morning
A friend of Mr Sabbagh said he was taken ‘mistakenly and undeservedly’
The gym announced it would be closed on Thursday
Daily Mail Australia understands the gym wasn’t open at the time. Pictured are members of the gym
The gym posted a message to Instagram on Thursday morning, announcing it would be closed.
‘Asalamu alaykum (peace be with you in Arabic),’ the message began.
‘We are very sorry for any inconvenience. Elite Force Force will be closed today and all classes will be cancelled for the day.
‘Please bear with us and stay updated with our stories for any new announcements.’
Daily Mail Australia understands the gym wasn’t open at the time.
The gym has received high praise from members who described it as having ‘world class facilities and trainers’ that has classes for all ages.
‘The best MMA gym in Sydney,’ one person wrote in a review.
An ambulance is seen outside the mixed martial arts gym on Thursday morning
‘Also has the best bantamweight fighter there.
‘Definitely recommended for anyone looking to get fit or self defense or even pursuing a career in combat sports.’
Another person said the business was the ‘most disciplined mixed martial arts gym’ in the city.
‘The owners and trainers treat you like family as soon as you enter in the door,’ they said.
Children had been training at the gym on Wednesday evening – mere hours before the shooting took place.
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