Former Comancheros boss Mick Hawi has died in hospital, hours after being shot multiple times in what police have said was a planned attack in Sydney's south.
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Hawi was shot while sitting in the driver's seat of his car outside a Fitness First gym in Rockdale about midday on Thursday.
The 37-year-old went into cardiac arrest before being transferred to St George Hospital where he later died.
Commander of State Crime Command Assistant Commissioner Mal Lanyon described the shooting as "a planned and targeted attack, completely without regard to human life".
Addressing the media on Thursday afternoon, Mr Lanyon said police would be exploring links between organised crime, the Comancheros bikie gang and Mr Hawi, but acknowledged that it was "too early to determine the motive for his shooting."
"What I can say is this was a serious, brutal and callous attack and one that NSW police will not stand for. We are 100 per cent committed to finding who was responsible and putting that person before the court."
Mr Lanyon said shortly after the shooting police were called to Chandler Street, Rockdale where a grey-colour Mercedes-Benz station wagon was involved in a vehicle fire.
Police are currently exploring whether the vehicle was associated with the shooting.
"We have had information provided that a male wearing all dark clothing and a balaclava was seen committing the offence...we believe the gunman was on foot at the time the shots were fired," he said, adding that "there may well have been a second person in the [grey] vehicle."
"One of the things we will focus on is...ensuring we put sufficient resources out there to prevent any retribution that may be considered as a result of his shooting."
CCTV footage, shown on Seven News, showed two men dressed in black running in a nearby street from the scene of the burning car.
Reshan Muthukrishna has operated a physiotherapy clinic out of the Fitness First gym for the past four years, where Hawi has previously been treated for a shoulder injury.
Mr Muthukrishna was seeing a patient inside the clinic when he heard "at least five" shots on Thursday.
"Around 12pm we heard some big bangs, we thought it was some equipment being dropped. I stayed in the clinic and my colleague ran out, it was just chaos," he said.
"Just pandemonium left, right and centre ... people on the scene were trying to help him, administer CPR."
Mr Muthukrishna said the shooting was "definitely not good for business" but "not unexpected or surprising ... [in] Rockdale," describing the Fitness First gym as a bit of a hub for gang members and bikies.
"Considering the history of this gym. There have been minor incidents with gangs and gang members training here," he said.
"He trained here, Mick trained here, him and his crew. He was a regular here, he used to come once or twice a day."
Mr Muthukrishna described the incident as "tragic" and added that the gym would now be closed for a few days while it remained a crime scene.
"I've got staff who are traumatised, so it's definitely not good for business ... obviously it will affect the clientele; Fitness First clientele, my clientele, this place has even more of a reputation than before."
On Thursday afternoon, a police officer stood at the driveway to St George Hospital, stopping all cars and speaking to their drivers.
Multiple police cars, including four riot squad vehicles, were parked near the hospital's entrance. Riot squad officers were seen pacing up and down the footpath.
Fitness First said it had closed the Rockdale gym until further notice.
"We are fully complying with the police investigation," a spokeswoman said.
"Our priority is ensuring our staff and members are provided the right support at this time."
Do you know more? Email lucy.cormack@fairfaxmedia.com.au
With AAP
