• Suman Mokhtarian, a former UFC fighter, was shot dead in Sydney at the age of 33.
• The shooting occurred in Riverstone and is believed to be a targeted attack.
• This incident follows Mokhtarian's survival of a previous attack at a gym in February 2024.
• Witnesses reported hearing gunfire with children nearby during the incident.
• Police are investigating potential links to organized crime.

Suman Mokhtarian, a 33-year-old former UFC fighter, was shot dead during a “brazen” attack while out for a walk in Sydney's Riverstone suburb on Wednesday evening. Authorities characterized the shooting as a “targeted attack,” occurring shortly after Mokhtarian began his evening stroll at approximately 6 p.m. Paramedics arrived but he was pronounced dead at the scene, according to Indiatimes and South China Morning Post.

Witnesses described hearing multiple gunshots just before Mokhtarian collapsed. A local resident named Ben reported a loud bang followed by smoke in the area, highlighting the chaotic scene as children played nearby. This shocking incident is compounded by the discovery of two cars set ablaze shortly after the shooting, a tactic linked to organized crime, as stated by New South Wales Police Superintendent Jason Joyce, who emphasized the alarming nature of violence occurring in residential areas, according to South China Morning Post and CBS News.

This tragic event comes just 18 months after Mokhtarian survived another assassination attempt outside a gym, where he was also shot at. Reports indicate he was well-known within the MMA community, having coached many aspiring fighters after his UFC career, which ended with a record of two losses in his two bouts, according to South China Morning Post and Indiatimes.

In the aftermath of the shooting, local residents expressed shock and fear about the violent incident in their community. A neighbor, who rushed to check on Mokhtarian, stated she could tell he was not alive, emphasizing the horrifying nature of the event. Police are currently investigating potential links between this shooting and a recent police operation that thwarted a planned attack involving firearms near a daycare center, further heightening concerns of escalating organized crime in the area, as reported by CBS News and Indiatimes.