Man shot dead in Sydney home invasion in suspected 'targeted attack'

A man in his early 20s has died after being shot during an alleged home invasion at a house in Glen Alpine, in Sydney's south-west, in the early hours of Tuesday morning. He was at home with his family when several unidentified individuals reportedly forced their way inside.

Acting Superintendent Gretchin Atkins said emergency services were called to the property at around 3.40am. Officers arriving at the scene found the man with a gunshot wound; he died before he could be formally identified.

The alleged offenders had already fled by the time police arrived and remain at large. Atkins said the evidence gathered so far points to a targeted attack, though much about the incident remains unknown and the investigation continues. Police have confirmed multiple people were involved in carrying out the attack.

A crime scene has been set up at the property, and the case is being investigated with support from the New South Wales police force's homicide squad. Investigators are appealing to anyone who was in the area at the time, and who may have seen people or vehicles of interest, to come forward.

According to Atkins, the victim's only prior contact with police was for a traffic offence, and he had no other known criminal history. His family is cooperating with the investigation.

Police said they are aware of a social media post, reportedly shared by a figure linked to Sydney's criminal underworld, claiming the shooting resulted from mistaken identity.

The attack follows a similar incident three days earlier in Guilford, where a 28-year-old man was fatally shot during a home invasion, also in the early morning. Police have not suggested any connection between the two cases. Earlier this year, Sydney also saw the kidnapping and murder of 85-year-old Chris Baghsarian, who was abducted from his home in a case that was also linked to mistaken identity.