Former UFC fighter shot dead in ‘targeted’ attack in Riverstone, Sydney
Police believe one of the destroyed vehicles was in the Riverstone area hours before the attack occurred.
Mokhtarian was defeated in both UFC featherweight bouts in 2018 and 2019, losing by technical knockout and unanimous decision, respectively.
Riverstone residents and paramedics cordoned off suburban streets after a man was shot dead.
He was a competitor in UFC Ultimate Warrior The 2018 show is a reality TV show where fringe professionals train and compete against each other to further their budding careers.
Mokhtarian has moved into coaching in recent years and was a licensed trainer at the Australian gym Top Team, where he trained several fighters to compete in the canceled mixed martial arts event in April.
Riverstone resident Ben, who declined to share his surname, said the attack came as a surprise on a quiet suburban street.
“I went for a walk with my wife,” he said. “I think it was five past six and [I heard what] There might be gunfire… I thought it might just be a construction site.
“We saw the chaos… and a local person said someone had been killed. [shot]. “At that time we also heard an explosion and a lot of smoke rising into the air… it could have been a car.”
“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 children were riding their bikes in the park.”
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One of the cars on fire was a red Audi, and a male suspect was likely inside the car before it caught fire, Joyce said.
“We have potentially found a description of a male in the vehicle. That’s all we know from eyewitnesses at this stage.” [and it] “He was seen speeding away from the scene and a short time later the vehicle was seen to be on fire,” he said.
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