Bombshell update after NRL star shot in Sydney and left fighting for life – as new details emerge and police make arrests
Four teenagers have been charged over a series of violent attacks in Greater Western Sydney, including the alleged shooting of former NRL player Matt Utai who is fighting for life in hospital.
Detectives raided six properties throughout Thursday in Riverwood, Guildford, Lilyfield, Villawood and Auburn.
They arrested two 19-year-old men, an 18-year-old man and a 16-year-old boy over the shooting of Utai and the alleged firebombing and shootings of homes linked to his 24-year-old son, Iziah Utai.
Police allege Iziah Utai was formerly associated with the Alameddine crime family but recently split from the group and aligned himself with the rival Coconut Cartel.
The move triggered the violent retaliation now unfolding across Western Sydney, detectives believe.
‘Criminals throughout history have been known to retaliate against other rival gangs. It’s not a new occurrence,’ Detective Acting Superintendent Brad Abdy said.
‘The escalation appears to be targeting innocent members of particular families. It’s ridiculously disgusting offences they are committing.
‘These people are ordinarily innocent people that are now being targeted by violent criminal syndicates, and they have no association with the criminality of the people in their particular families or their particular associates.’
Matt Utai is fighting for life in hospital
Police allege Iziah Utai was formerly associated with the Alameddine crime family but recently split from the group and aligned himself with the rival Coconut Cartel – a move detectives believe has triggered the violent retaliation now unfolding across Western Sydney
Iziah’s father, former Canterbury-Bankstown winger Matt Utai was shot twice on Macquarie Street in Greenacre, in Sydney’s south-west on Tuesday before 6am.
NSW Police allege an SUV drove past the 44-year-old’s home shortly before up to five shots were fired from the vehicle.
Paramedics treated Utai at the scene for injuries to his shoulder and leg before he was rushed under emergency conditions to St George Hospital.
He remains in a serious condition.
Just 24 hours later, footage emerged of a second attack in which gunmen – said to be associated with the Alameddine crime network – taunting the Utai clan again.
They unleashed 14 rounds from an automatic weapon into the walls and windows of a home in St Clair, western Sydney, about 12.45am on Wednesday.
The gunmen claimed it was the home of the in-laws of Iziah Utai.
In the latest video – apparently shot by the gunmen themselves, dressed in black and wearing balaclavas – one screamed at the home: ‘F*** you and the cartel.’
In the second video, the thugs launched an arson attack on the suspected Guildford West home of Iziah Utai’s mother and filmed the burning property
A man on video of the attack added: ‘Zat ziggy Utai … f*** him and the Coconut Cartel – this is the start of the destruction brother.’
The suspected getaway car was found burnt out in nearby Freeman Street in Colyton a short time later.
The Coconut Cartel gang, which Iziah Utai has been linked to, is understood to have launched a war on the Alameddines for control of the Sydney drug scene.
