Former UFC Star Suman Mokhtarian Shot Dead

Sydney: Former UFC star Suman Mokhtarian was “brazenly” shot dead in broad daylight while walking in Sydney, months after surviving an attempt on his life, police said.

The 33-year-old was shot dead in a “targeted” attack in Sydney’s north-west suburb of Riverstone on Wednesday evening, according to New South Wales Police.

Shortly after the shooting, two cars were found burning in different locations; This is a hallmark of the recent organized crime incidents that have shaken the city.

“This is so brazen and it’s disgraceful that this is happening in our community,” NSW Police chief Jason Joyce told a news conference.

“You’d like to think that in a residential area people could be walking around the streets and be safe at that time of night, but we believe this was a targeted attack,” he said.

According to local media reports, Mokhtarian survived an assassination attempt when a gunman opened fire on him outside a gym in Sydney’s west last February.

According to ESPN, the UFC star fought twice in 2018 and 2019 before switching to coaching.

He helped develop some of Australia’s best mixed martial arts at a gym in Sydney’s west, the publication said.

A local man, Ben, who only identified himself by his first name, said he was walking with his wife when he heard gunshots.

“About that time we also heard an explosion and there was a lot of smoke billowing into the air… It was the car itself,” he told The Sydney Morning Herald.

“There was a huge commotion, a lot of people were shocked because they had never witnessed anything like this before.”

“The shooting took place while the kids were literally riding their bikes in the park.”

The incident occurred a day after police blocked a “kill squad” carrying firearms, balaclavas, body-worn cameras and canisters on their way to a nursery.

Police are investigating whether the two incidents are related.