Sydney boxing coach Louis Meehan killed in Punchbowl targeted shooting
Posted Thu 10 Sep 2026 at 8:28amThu 10 Sep 2026 at 8:28amThu 10 Sep 2026 at 8:28am, updated Thu 10 Sep 2026 at 8:43amThu 10 Sep 2026 at 8:43amThu 10 Sep 2026 at 8:43am
In short:
A man shot dead in the car park of a community centre in Sydney’s south-west has been confirmed as boxing coach Louis Meehan.
The shooting, which police say is targeted, unfolded in Punchbowl about 5:50pm on Wednesday.
Police believe the gunman acted alone and the shooting may be outlaw motorcycle gang-related.
A man gunned down in Sydney’s south-west has been confirmed as boxing coach Louis Meehan, with police investigating whether the shooting may be outlaw motorcycle gang-related.
The 32-year-old was shot multiple times in the car park of a community centre in Punchbowl about 5:50pm on Wednesday.
Paramedics treated Mr Meehan but he died at the scene.
Police said a stolen silver Lexus sedan was spotted fleeing the area and was later located in Bass Hill.
On Thursday, State Crime Command and Acting Assistant Commissioner Grant Taylor told 702 ABC Sydney that at this stage police believed a lone gunman was behind the attack.
Mr Taylor said early inquiries suggested the incident was not linked to the spate of recent shootings and that the history of Mr Meehan “correlates with activities in and around outlaw motorcycle gangs [OMCGs]”.
“There are some early indications that this incident has no correlation or linkage with what’s been transpiring over the last several months,” Mr Taylor said.
“This may be related to OMCG activity or some sort of other activity, but we don’t believe in the early stages of this investigation that it’s linked to the other matters.“
On Wednesday night, Acting Superintendent Dean Johnstone said the victim was known to police, and described the shooting as targeted.
“This is a callous act,” he said.
On Thursday morning, there were a string of comments left on Mr Meehan’s social media account from the boxing community paying tribute.
Witness hid behind car, then rendered first aid
Danielle Kind was at the scene with her son on Wednesday night and witnessed the shooting.
“I saw this man walking that way, and then someone ran up from the side and behind him … then bang, bang,” she said.
When the shooting occurred, Ms Kind said she hid behind a car and then went to render aid to the victim.
“I just saw the gun and hid behind the car instinctively … then I went across the road, held his hand and just prayed.“
It was reported about a dozen children were inside the community centre when the shooting unfolded on Wednesday night.
“This act could have easily endangered other members of the community,” Superintendent Johnstone said.
“In a public place like this … it’s very fortunate, and we’re very grateful that no other person has been injured.”
Shooting comes days after government crackdown
The shooting comes after the state government on Monday announced a swathe of legislative reforms as part of a crackdown on organised crime.
Police and state government figures have repeatedly rejected suggestions underworld violence is out of control.
NSW Opposition Leader Kellie Sloane acknowledged the shooting in a post on social media, noting it was the third incident of its kind in the city over the past week.