The well-known criminal lawyer who was shot and killed in a ‘targeted attack’ in Sydney’s west had recently sent his wife and young children to visit family in Vietnam.
Vietnamese-born lawyer Ho Ledinh was killed while dining at the Happy Cup Cafe in Bankstown’s Old Town Plaza at 4pm on Tuesday, after a gunman shot him several times in the pelvic region.
Daily Mail Australia understands the targeted attack comes after Ledinh sent his young wife Ngo Thu Huong and their three children to Vietnam to be with family.
Vietnamese-born lawyer Ho Ledinh sent his young wife Ngo Thu Huong and their three children to Vietnam to be with family just weeks before his death
Ledinh, his wife and their three children lived in the front of this modest duplex – they would often be seen playing in the yard by neighbours
The well-known criminal lawyer who was shot and killed in a ‘targeted attack’ in Sydney’s west
His ‘best friend’ Van Nguyen told Daily Mail Australia the Ledinh would usually have gone to Vietnam with his family – and he is not sure why they went without him this time.
‘They were very precious to him, he was a wonderful father and thought his wife was very beautiful,’ he told Daily Mail Australia.
Ledinh met his wife after the breakdown of his first marriage – in the same coffee shop where he was killed, according to his friend.
‘They met in his coffee shop and fell in love when he made her a coffee,’ he said.
‘I think they were very happy, they got married and had the three children – and she got to move to Australia,’ he said.
His ‘best friend’ Van Nguyen, pictured, told Daily Mail Australia the Ledinh would usually have gone to Vietnam with his family
‘They were very precious to him, he was a wonderful father and thought his wife was very beautiful,’ he told Daily Mail Australia
The family have lived in a red-brick duplex a short distance from the popular café and legal practice for ‘about two years’ according to neighbours.
‘They are a very quiet family sometimes you here the children inside and they play in the yard but I haven’t seen the lady or kids for two weeks,’ one woman told Daily Mail Australia.
The home’s yard is piled with old toys and cafe-style tables and chairs.
‘I have only seen the man – he will smile of he sees us but is very quiet.’
The shocked owner of a neighbouring business said she couldn’t believe there was a shooting metres from her own front door.
The woman said she used to see the slain lawyer ‘from time to time’ and that he would smile but never talk.
The home’s yard is piled with old toys and cafe-style tables and chairs
‘They are a very quiet family sometimes you here the children inside and they play in the yard but I haven’t seen the lady or kids for two weeks,’ one woman told Daily Mail Australia
‘His wife told me a few weeks ago that she had to go back to Vietnam and didn’t know when she would see us next,’a neighbour said
‘I would talk to his wife but I would only say hello to him, there was no talking.
‘His wife told me a few weeks ago that she had to go back to Vietnam and didn’t know when she would see us next,’ she said.
‘Now this has happened – I hope she is okay and with her family.’
Meanwhile Mr Nguyen, who spent time with the dead man just hours before, couldn’t hold back his feelings of disappointment and despair.
‘He is a true friend, would do anything for us. I couldn’t believe he was dead when I got the phone call.
‘He was my best friend… like my step brother. We didn’t have family here so we were each other’s family.
Police shut off the shopping strip following the horrific shooting
NSW Police confirmed Mr Ledinh died of gunshot wounds at the scene after they attended the incident
Mr Ledinh was a prominent lawyer with offices in Bankstown and he previously represented Phillip Nguyen, who was jailed for the shooting death of policeman Bill Crews in 2010
‘I could tell him things I could never tell a wife or my mother or father – he would always listen and then tell me what I should do.’
No one else was injured in the shooting, which happened in front of shocked shoppers in broad daylight.
NSW Police confirmed Mr Ledinh died of gunshot wounds at the scene after they attended the incident.
Detectives believe the shooting to be a ‘targeted attack’ as they continue to hunt the offender.
Detectives believe the shooting to be a ‘targeted attack’ as they continue to hunt the offender
No one else was injured in the shooting, which happened in front of shocked shoppers in broad daylight
‘We do believe that it is a targeted attack – that’s how it appears at this stage,’ Acting Commander Brad Thorne said
Mr Ledinh was a prominent lawyer with offices in Bankstown and he previously represented Phillip Nguyen, who was jailed for the shooting death of policeman Bill Crews in 2010.
‘We do believe that it is a targeted attack – that’s how it appears at this stage,’ Acting Commander Brad Thorne said.
A witness told Daily Mail Australia she watched as the gunman left his victim lying on the floor of the cafe as he fled towards the station.
‘I got out of the car and just saw him on the floor out of breath…’ she said.
‘The guy that shot him ran towards the station wearing green clothing.’
A witness told Daily Mail Australia she watched as the gunman left his victim lying on the floor of the cafe
‘I got out of the car and just saw him on the floor out of breath…’ a witness said
CCTV footage captured the alleged killer walking through Bankstown wearing a green shirt just before the shooting.
A mother who also witnessed the shooting from a restaurant across the street reported hearing four gun shots before watching cafe patrons flee the scene.
‘I was in a restaurant right across from the cafe, heard four gun shots and saw people running away from the scene,’ a witness told Daily Mail Australia.
‘I ran outside and saw shops closing their doors and people running to the cafe standing around. Called 000, people were saying the guy is dead.
My eight-year-old daughter was in hysterics, the poor thing screamed and ran behind the counter.’
CCTV footage captured the alleged killer walking through Bankstown wearing a green shirt just before the shooting