Sydney man charged over murder of OneFour associate
A man has been charged with gunning down another man with links to rap group OneFour at a south-west Sydney home in a brazen attack that sent four people to hospital and police believe was linked to organized crime.
The 23-year-old man was arrested at Sydney International Airport on Saturday evening, more than two months after the Canley Heights Arbutus Street shooting that killed Alai Ahio.
Police believe the five men were at the Canley Heights home when two other men entered the residence and shots were fired before the pair fled in a white SUV.
Four friends of 28-year-old Ahio suffered various injuries but survived the May 19 attack.
Strike Force Valko detectives arrested the 23-year-old at the departure terminal at Sydney airport and then took him to Mascot Police Station.
Police later seized a number of electronic devices and 10 grams of cocaine during a raid at a house in Church Street, Moorebank.
The man was charged with Ahio’s murder and two counts of unauthorized possession of a weapon. He was refused bail at a hearing on Sunday and will appear in Parramatta Local Court on September 17.
A social media account linked to Ahio was tagged in photos with members of western Sydney rap group OneFour. In one photo, Ahio has a “14” tattoo on his neck, and police sources confirmed the connection.
A social media tribute to Ahio in the hours after his death encouraged others to “turn and give you life to Christ before it’s too late.”
“I love you lai, running on the field won’t be the same without you by my side,” the tribute read.
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Daniel Lo Surdo is a breaking news reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald. He previously ran The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age’s national news live blog.Connect via email.
