Four men have been arrested this morning and are expected to be charged with their alleged involvement in the murder of a teenager in west Sydney more than two years ago.
Key points:
- Four men between the ages of 20 and 25 have been arrested
- Strike Force Zero was formed to investigate the death of Omar Elomar
- The men are expected to be charged later today
Omar Elomar, 18, was allegedly dragged out of his car and shot in the chest at close range on a quiet street in Miller, shortly after 11pm on Saturday 15 February 2020.
Police believe the deadly shooting resulted from a fight between two schoolchildren the day before in the parking lot of a mall.
Two groups, one including Mr. Elomar, who were family members of the schoolchildren, gathered near Miller High School after exchanging messages on social media.
Elomar died from his injuries at Cabramatta Avenue, despite paramedics’ efforts to resuscitate him.
Shortly before 6 a.m. today, homicide detectives arrested four men aged 20, 22, 23 and 25 at the homes of Bonnyrigg, Macquarie Fields, Gregory Hills and Orange.
They are at local police stations awaiting formal charges.
Detective Superintendent Danny Doherty said today’s arrests were the result of a “thorough” investigation involving thorough forensic work and witness reports.
“What started out as basically a school fight, manifested itself in a violent murder act,” he said.
Detective Superintendent Danny Doherty said police never gave up investigating the teen’s death. (ABC News)
The head of the homicide team was confident that police had gathered enough evidence to charge the four men arrested today with murder.
Noah Albert was acquitted last year of a role in the alleged murder after facing a trial in the Supreme Court.
The court learned that Albert was being taken to the scene at Miller for the previously arranged meeting between a group of associates and friends of Mr. Elomar.
It was accepted that some wore cricket bats, stumps and baseball bats to be used as weapons or as protection.
However, the court learned that Mr Albert did not know that one of his crews had allegedly carried a shotgun, which was used to shoot the young man.
Detective Superintendent Doherty has confirmed that a man named as Mr. Elomar’s alleged shooter during the trial was among today’s arrests.
He said investigators believe they have arrested the person who pulled the trigger.
Omar Elomar was killed on Miller’s Cabramatta Avenue. (ABC News)
The men were “caught unawares” when police knocked on their doors this morning, more than two years after the incident.
“I think the gravity of the situation is sinking as we talk,” Detective Superintendent Detective Doherty said.
“We had always held out some hope of having enough evidence to load … we never gave up.”
He said it had been a morning of “mixed emotions” for Mr Elomar’s mother after she received a call from police earlier today.
“But [she is] “Police are happy to have continued the investigation into who was responsible for the alleged murder,” Detective Superintendent Detective Doherty said.
Posted 3 hours ago 3 hours ago Wednesday, May 25, 2022 at 10:54 PM, updated 6 minutes ago 6 minutes ago Thursday, May 26, 2022 at 1:53 AM