Quick Read
- Gunfire hit a Sydney venue scheduled for the wake of gang leader Lorenzo Lemalu.
- No injuries were reported as the venue was empty at the time.
- A burnt-out vehicle was found nearby; police link it to the shooting.
- Lemalu was killed in Vietnam in May 2026 amid a gang war with the Alameddine family.
Incident at Punchbowl
Police in Sydney have established two crime scenes following a targeted shooting on Saturday afternoon. Gunmen opened fire on the Diamond Venues Group in Punchbowl, which had been advertised as the location for the funeral wake of Lorenzo Lemalu, the leader of the self-proclaimed ‘Coconut Cartel’.
According to reports from the ABC and Nine News, the venue was empty at the time of the shooting, and no injuries were reported. A burnt-out SUV, believed to be linked to the attack, was discovered shortly after in nearby Gillian Place. Authorities are treating the shooting and the vehicle fire as connected incidents.
Underworld tensions
Lorenzo Lemalu was fatally shot in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, on May 2, 2026. His remains were repatriated to Australia earlier this week. The ‘Coconut Cartel’ has been embroiled in a violent conflict with the Alameddine crime family, characterized by a series of shootings and firebombings across Sydney.
NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Scott Cook noted that while police have recently moved to dismantle the cartel’s operations, the public nature of these events highlights the ongoing volatility of the gang war. The funeral proceedings have been moved to a different location, where a significant police presence is expected to ensure public safety.