A tattoo parlour shooting that left a customer fighting for his life on the day of Mick Hawi’s funeral could be linked to the Comanchero boss’ murder, police say.
As Hawi’s family and friends gathered for traditional prayers at a Sydney mosque around 1pm today, two masked men stormed Nitro Ink Tattoo Studio in south-east Melbourne and gunned down a customer in a hail of bullets.
The men escaped in a silver saloon car before setting it on fire and are still on the run.
The victim, 35, is in intensive care at The Alfred Hospital with wounds to his upper body after the incident in Hampton Park. Police say the gunmen’s bullets went through to next-door buildings but luckily non-one else was hurt.
Police at the scene of a burnt out car in Robjant St, Hampton Park, near the scene of a shooting at a tattoo parlour in Melbourne
A tattoo parlour shooting that left a customer fighting for his life on the day of Mick Hawi’s funeral could be linked to the Comanchero boss’ murder, police say
Police say the attack was targeted but the tattoo parlour had no bikie links, despite earlier reports it was connected to the national president of the Comanchero bikie gang, Mick Murray who is currently behind bars.
Asked in a press conference if the shooting was linked to Mick Hawi’s murder, a police spokesman said detectives were probing the possibility.
The parlour is reportedly part of Nitro, a group of businesses including gyms, security and tattoo services.
Comanchero boss Murray is currently behind bars, after a top secret investigation by Victoria Police’s anti-bikie Echo taskforce earlier this year.
Witnesses at the scene reportedly heard a number of gunshots and screaming, shortly after 1pm.
The witness said there were so many gunshots he ‘couldn’t count’ them.
Police are at the scene and have placed an entire local shopping centre in lock down
Slain bikie Mick Hawi pictured with wife Carolina – the Comanchero bikie boss’ funeral was held on Thursday
When questioned at the scene, one man who appeared to work at the parlour told a Herald Sun reporter to ‘f*** off’.
Daily Mail Australia’s calls to the parlour went unanswered on Thursday afternoon.
The body of former Comanchero chief Mahmoud ‘Mick’ Hawi was taken out of his coffin and placed into a grave, as hundreds of mourners watched on in Sydney’s south on Thursday afternoon.
A week after he was executed by hitmen outside a gym in Rockdale, former club associates, family, friends and lawyers of the one-time crime kingpin gathered to pay their respects to the Lebanese migrant and father-of-two, 37, at an Arncliffe mosque.
After 1pm prayers at the Al Zahra mosque in Arncliffe, a convoy of luxury cars followed the hearse carrying Hawi’s bullet-riddled body to Rookwood Cemetery.
There were no motorbikes in sight, nor bikie colours, as mourners were told by the Hawi family they were a ‘no-go’.
Mourners held an empty coffin over their heads at a nearby cemetery following the funeral service
Among dozens of headstones, the massive crowd gathered to bury Mahmoud ‘Mick’ Hawi at Rookwood Cemetery
Earlier, a man named Tony carried a framed photograph of his slain friend as he led a procession of mourners towards the Al Zahra mosque for Hawi’s funeral
The service was well attended by men and women, who wore black head scarves and clothing
One woman was seen covering her face as she walked with other female mourners
More than a dozen uniformed police officers watched as the family, including wife Carolina arrived at the grave site in a parade of white Rolls Royces, a Bentley and Porsche.
Mosque officials said Hawi’s bullet-riddled body was washed at the service and he was dressed per Islamic rites. Traditional blessings were also performed.
At the graveside, prayers were sung and Hawi’s body was removed from its casket, as per Islamic tradition.
His body was then lowered into the cement-lined grave and a truck tipped earth on top of him.
Close male relatives and friends finished the burial together with shovels and laid enormous bouquets of flowers for Hawi.
A truck is seen lowering something towards the grave site as mourners gather around
Mourners comfort one another after former Comanchero president Hawi is buried
Hundreds attended the burial at Rookwood Cemetery near Lidcombe
Flowers are seen covering the ground around the father-of-two’s burial site
Islamic Friendship Association president Keysar Trad said followers of the belief ‘don’t bury with the coffin. We take the cadaver out of the coffins.’
Concrete slabs are often laid at the bottom of graves to meet health requirements, Mr Trad said.
Family and friends, including Hawi’s father, then formed a line and shook hands with almost every attendee. Others stayed to pay their respects.
Mourners were asked by Hawi’s immediate family not to wear bikie colours nor arrive on motorcycles out of ‘respect’.
Many attendees wore shirts or hoodies with photographs of Mahmoud printed on the back.
Most attendees, particularly the men, were photographed by undercover police officers as they arrived at the mosque.
A convoy of luxury cars arrived at Hawi’s funeral just before midday, believed to be transporting his wife Carolina and their two sons, as well as immediate family.
Following the service, mourners poured out of the mosque, all dressed in black
One man appeared to give directions, as others looked on with interest from behind
Many appeared moved by the service held for the former Comanchero president
One woman appeared to be wiping tears from her eyes as another appeared distraught as she reached into her bag
Hundreds of people arrived at a mosque in Arncliffe to mourn the former bikie boss a week after he was shot dead
One man conversed with another, who appeared to be the Imam running Hawi’s service
One man came dressed in a striped, collared shirt, and another was seen with what appeared to be a compression sleeve on his arm as they farewelled their friend ‘Mick’
As hundreds of mourners descended on the place of worship, a large police van sat outside the entrance, and police cars sat on most corners of the block, surrounding the mosque.
Officers said they were there to ensure the funeral did not disrupt traffic.
A large group of men in black T-shirts arrived in three white limousines.
A man named Tony carried a framed photograph of the former Comanchero leader down the street as the others fell in line behind him.
Two women, one wearing a shirt with Hawi’s face emblazoned on it, kept their heads bowed as they farewelled the beloved former Comancheros president
One woman appeared to reach out and comfort another as they headed towards the mosque
Attendees looked sombre on Thursday as they prepared to farewell their friend at the Arncliffe mosque
The Lebanese migrant was then buried in the Muslim section of the city’s Rookwood necropolis.
Hawi’s body was released to the family by investigators on Wednesday, after an autopsy.
He rose to infamy in 2009 for his involvement in a brutal brawl at Sydney Airport which resulted in the death of a Hells Angels associate.
Mosque officials earlier said he will be farewelled at traditional prayers, where it is understood his body will be washed as per Islamic custom and his family members will spend time with him
One man, dressed in a Gucci shirt with an eye catching snake logo, appeared to be having a heated conversation on the phone ahead of Hawi’s memorial
The Lebanese migrant will be then be buried at the city’s Rookwood necropolis. Hawi’s body was released to the family by investigators on Wednesday, after an autopsy
One man wore traditional Islamic clothing (pictured right) for the sombre occasion
Mourners young and old attended mosque on Thursday to pay their respects
Hawi’s coffin was taken from the mosque in a black hearse, accompanied by a lengthy funeral procession of white cars, following the service
Both the hearse and Hawi’s coffin were covered in a spray of flowers (pictured)
Despite family members requesting attendees of the funeral arrive in cars and leave motorcycles at home, one man appeared to ride a BMW bike to the service
One man held his hand over his heart as he prepared to farewell the father-of-two, while another looked downcast
His wife, Carolina Gonzalez, successfully made an urgent application to the New South Wales Supreme Court to obtain a sperm sample.
Her lawyer submitted she still ‘desires’ to have more children with her late husband.
An affidavit filed by her lawyer said they were advised by the Coroner that Hawi was ‘situated in a locked zipped bag and that bag cannot be unzipped without the presence of detectives.’
Up to 200 mourners, many dressed in black tribute t-shirts with Hawi’s face and name on the back (right), were seen piling into the mosque
One man wore a religious shirt which appeared to address the end of days and announced ‘the awaited saviour’
There was a large media and police presence at the Comanchero boss’ funeral on Thursday
Roadblocks and a police van were seen outside the Arncliffe mosque on Thursday
Police did not object to a urologist performing the procedure to obtain Hawi’s sperm.
Hawi’s killers, who remain unidentified, are still on the run despite warnings from police they will not remain anonymous for long.
The investigation into his murder continues.
While many dressed in suits for the occasion, some took a more casual approach to the funeral
Police were seen on every corner of the block surrounding the Arncliffe mosque
Huge crowds of men and children were seen in the driveway to the mosque, where a luxury car was parked
Many appeared distraught as they left the Arncliffe mosque on Thursday, clutching bottles of water
Luxury cars followed the hearse carrying Hawi’s body away from the mosque and toward the cemetery