An underworld figure has narrowly escaped death for the third time in five years after being taking four bullets in an apparent botched hit on Wednesday night – with the gunman fleeing the scene.
Vailena Koloamatangi, 28, was found with four gunshot wounds about 10.50pm in Winston Hills, near Parramatta in western Sydney.
At least eight shots were fired, with four hitting Koloamatangi in the chest, arm, and leg.
He was rushed to the hospital in serious but stable condition and was put under police guard, according to NSW Police.
The gunman fled the scene in a Jeep, which was later set on fire in Northmead around 11pm to destroy forensic evidence. Despite efforts by firefighters, the SUV was completely destroyed.
This isn’t the first attempt at Koloamatangi’s life.
In 2023, he was shot in the head and chest in the basement of an apartment block on Canterbury Road, and he nearly died in the hospital as a result of his injuries.
Shortly after that attack, three stolen vehicles were discovered burning in the suburbs of Kingsgrove, Berala, and Birrong.
Another failed hit took place in 2020. At that time, Koloamatangi was sitting in a Toyota Camry with his school friend Hasan Gotkas when two men opened fire, injuring Gotkas.
Vailena Koloamatangi, 28, was found with gunshot wounds about 10.50pm on Wednesday in Winston Hills, near Parramatta in the city’s west
Police officers are seen at the scene of the shooting early on Thursday morning
Wednesday’s shooting comes just a week after a rapper was charged with murder after he allegedly stabbed a man outside a Guzman y Gomez restaurant in Sydney.
Jacob Tammer-Spence, 30 allegedly murdered Sitaleki ‘Leki’ Filihiahekava, 32, outside the restaurant in the inner-west suburb of Marrickville, at about 7.40pm last Monday, while he was having dinner with his family.
Police believe the alleged stabbing was a targeted attack and are investigating possible links to organised crime.
A man fired two guns at Koloamatangi up to 12 times in 2023
Vailena Koloamatangi was rushed to hospital clinging to life after he was shot in the head and chest in 2023
Sydney was hit with dozens of tit-for-tat gangland shootings beginning in 2020 spurred by a war between rival crime organisations.
The public attacks included five targeted shootings during a week in mid-July.
However, the violence had subsided recently following a series of arrests that investigators say helped dismantle one of the major gangs involved.
