After years on the run and subject to a $1 million contract, the underworld’s most-hunted man has been killed – shot in the head in an ambush in the car park of suburban Melbourne hotel.
After years on the run and subject to a $1 million contract, the underworld’s most-hunted man has been killed – shot in the head in an ambush in the car park of suburban Melbourne hotel.
By Marta Pascual Juanola, Chris Vedelago, Lachlan Abbott and Cameron Houston
Updated January 28, 2025 — 12.58pmfirst published at 10.44am
Sam “The Punisher” Abdulrahim, Melbourne underworld’s most hunted man, has been shot dead in the northern suburb of Preston after surviving several previous attempts on his life.
A police source and two underworld sources confirmed his death to this masthead.
The 32-year-old gangland figure-turned-boxer recently went “underground” to escape a $1 million murder contract on his head.
Victoria Police confirmed homicide squad detectives were investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a man in Preston on Tuesday morning.
Police confirmed emergency services were called following reports a man had been shot in a car park on High Street shortly after 10.30am.
Police said the man, who is yet to be formally identified, died at the scene.
“Police have cordoned off the area and a crime scene is in place,” a police spokeswoman said.
“At this early stage, police believe the incident was targeted.”
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Homicide squad detectives are expected to address the media at 2.15pm on Tuesday.
High Street, near the Quest Hotel, remained closed in both directions between Youngman and Wood streets as police collected evidence from the scene.
On Tuesday afternoon, about 20 visibly distraught family members and associates of Abdulrahim could be seen huddling together on the corner of High and Youngman streets.
One woman was sitting on the ground, her hands covering her face, as she was comforted by a group of people.
Another man was overcome with emotion as he slumped against a tree, while other grieving associates sat on chairs outside the Quest Preston hotel.
Members of the public also gathered behind the police tape on the intersection of Wood and High streets, trying to get a glimpse of the crime scene.
Abdulrahim, who lived under death threats for years, went into hiding in May 2024 after only narrowly escaping an ambush outside his northern suburbs home, where gunmen shot at him 17 times.
His Lalor home, shot up in another drive-by and then later firebombed, was left abandoned and unliveable.
Abdulrahim’s Instagram account was littered with false trails, including a photo purportedly posted from Lebanon with the message “Feels good to be in motherland”, when he was actually seen partying at a Melbourne bar.
In September, he appeared briefly to be working as a bodyguard for Russian mixed martial arts star Khabib Nurmagomedov at an event in Kuala Lumpur, according to a social media post about the MMA star.
In June 2022, he was ambushed as he was leaving his cousin’s funeral at Fawkner cemetery and shot in the chest eight times.
The Tuesday shooting comes as police and underworld sources suspect a series of seemingly random or unexplained violent attacks in the past six months are linked to enemies of Abdulrahim, who viciously targeted his family, friends and associates.
Friends and associates of Abdulrahim began posting on social media as news of his death spread.
“It is with great sadness that our dear brother Sam Abdulrahim has tragically passed away and returned to his Lord,” wrote an associate on Facebook.
“May Allah have mercy on his soul, forgive his sins and give his family patience and strength.”
Another wrote: “This is beyond belief and absolutely heartbreaking.”
Our Breaking News Alert will notify you of significant breaking news when it happens. Get it here.
Marta Pascual Juanola is a crime reporter at The Age.Connect via Twitter or email.
Chris Vedelago is the Law and Justice editor for The Age.Connect via Twitter.
Lachlan Abbott is a reporter at The Age.Connect via email.
Cameron Houston is a senior crime reporter.Connect via email.
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