Teenager, 16, Shot Dead In Sydney May Have Been Targeted Police Say

Police tape at a crime scene in Australia. Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

New South Wales police on Feb. 16, said they have launched an investigation into a shooting which took place in Sydney’s west over the weekend.

Officials said emergency services were called to Cabramatta Avenue in the suburb of Miller following reports of a shooting just after 11 p.m. on Saturday Feb. 15 and officers from Liverpool City Police Area Command attended and found a 16-year-old male with a gunshot wound to his chest.

Ambulance paramedics attempted to revive the teenager, who officials did not name, but he died at the scene.

According to The Australian, the victim is Omar Elomar, a relative of notorious ISIS terrorist Mohamed Elomar and his Sydney-based brother, Ahmed Elomar. The teenager, however, has no criminal history.

Mohamed Elomar left Sydney to fight for the terrorist group in 2013 before he was killed by a coalition air strike in Syria two years later. Ahmed Elomar served three years in jail for assaulting a police officer during the 2012 Hyde Park riots.

Omar Elomar worked in accounting at a business run by his family. His cousin Saad Aboulhaf told The Daily Telegraph he was just an “innocent kid” who had no interest drugs, alcohol, or partying.

“Every day I picked him up, took him to work, he’s just a nice blokek mate,” Aboulhaf told the news outlet.

“This is a kid that goes to work every day, starts at six in the morning, goes ‘till about three-thirty or five o’clock and goes home.”

Meanwhile, Chief Superintendent Adam Whyte from the Liverpool City Command said the shooting appeared to be targeted and urged anyone involved should turn themselves in as soon as possible.

“The incident is not random—it was targeted—however, at this stage it is very early in the investigation,” Superintendent Whyte told reporters.

“My message to all those involved is, you’re best to hand yourselves in to Liverpool police. It’s a tragic crime, any sort of firearm or violent crime is tragic. We will investigate it thoroughly.”

Whyte also thanked passersby at the scene who initially gave the victim CPR.

Following his confirmed death, Omar Elomar’s sister Shayma posted a heartfelt tribute on Facebook to her brother, saying he was a “beautiful soul” who’s smile could “light up any room.”

“Last night somebody thought it was ok to take away one of the two and only brothers that I have. I have no more ambition for life! I no longer believe in this cruel world! You took our hearts with you!,” she “>wrote.

“Anyone who knew this beautiful soul knew how happy and amazing he was, his smile could light up any dark room!! Omar wanted to be a lawyer! Omar was going places in life!!”