An 11-year-old boy has died from injuries sustained in a shooting at a residential unit in Sydney's north-west, three days after the incident occurred. The child was found with a gunshot wound to his face and neck at a property on Fairway Drive in Norwest on Monday afternoon and was rushed to hospital in critical condition, where he remained on life support before his death was confirmed at approximately 8pm on Thursday at Westmead Children's Hospital.
Members of the boy's family and the broader Sydney Maronite community have expressed their grief on social media. His father wrote a tribute describing his loss, while other relatives posted messages of heartbreak and remembrance for the young victim.
What happened at the unit?
Police responded to reports of a shooting at the Fairway Drive address just after 5pm on Monday. Upon arrival, officers discovered the 11-year-old boy with gunshot wounds to his face and neck. Paramedics from NSW Ambulance provided emergency treatment at the scene before transporting him to Westmead Children's Hospital in critical condition. Five other people who were present in the unit at the time were not physically injured in the incident.
According to reports from the scene, police believe a single shot was fired during the incident. However, the firearm used has not been recovered, and authorities have continued their search for the weapon.
Who has been arrested?
Three men, all aged 18, were arrested in connection with the incident. Two were taken to Hills Police Station and subsequently released pending further inquiries. One of the arrested men, Isaac Bechara, was charged with concealing a serious indictable offence. He appeared at Blacktown Local Court on Tuesday morning, where bail was refused and he made no application for release.
What do police say about the circumstances?
Detective Superintendent Naomi Moore addressed reporters on Tuesday afternoon, stating that police were familiar with the unit and had previously engaged with its occupants.
This shooting at this stage does not appear to be linked directly to current conflicts however a number of individuals who were inside the unit at the time are well known to NSW police. Their association with organised crime is being considered by investigators.
According to police statements, investigators are treating the case as potentially gangland-related and have been expanding witness searches as part of their inquiry. The presence of individuals with known associations to organised crime at the property has become a focus of the investigation.
What happens next?
NSW Police have confirmed that their inquiries are continuing. The search for the firearm remains ongoing, and further investigation is expected as detectives work to establish the full circumstances of the shooting and identify all those involved. Isaac Bechara's matter will continue before the courts as his case progresses.
Key Facts
- The boy died at Westmead Children's Hospital on Thursday evening, three days after being shot at a unit in Norwest on Monday
- He sustained gunshot wounds to his face and neck; a single shot is believed to have been fired, but the weapon has not been recovered
- Three 18-year-old men were arrested; one was charged with concealing a serious indictable offence and appeared in court on Tuesday
- Police are investigating possible links to organised crime, with several individuals at the property known to authorities
- The investigation remains active with ongoing inquiries into the circumstances of the shooting
