The family of a woman who died after being shot by an unknown gunman in south-west Sydney on Saturday night says she was the innocent victim of a dispute in which she had no involvement, and had been the sole provider for her family in Lebanon.
Hairdresser Amneh al-Hazouri, 39, known as Amy, and mother-of-two, Lametta Fadlallah, 48, were gunned down inside a silver four-wheel drive in Panania. Two others were in the vehicle – a 20-year-old man and a 16-year-old girl – but were unharmed and are assisting police.
The Bankstown workplace of hairdresser Amneh al-Hazouri, known as Amy, who died after being shot on Saturday night. Credit:Nick Moir, Supplied
Police believe Fadlallah, who had links to the crime world, was the target of the shooting and that al-Hazouri happened to be at the Panania house doing the older woman’s hair before a night out.
A woman saying she was al-Hazouri’s sister said the hairdresser was the sole provider for her family in Lebanon, where the economy has collapsed and there are dire shortages of food, fuel and medicine. The family is raising money for her funeral costs.
“Amy Hazouri was my beautiful sister, who was an innocent party who was murdered,” Manal Raunegger wrote in an internet post. “Amy was the sole provider for our family in Lebanon that is currently struggling with the economic crisis in Lebanon.
“We require urgent funds to carry out funeral services and transfer her body to Lebanon to lay at rest. Our mother is not well and cannot travel to Australia to see her daughter.
Mother-of-two Lametta Fadlallah, 48, and Amneh al-Hazouri, 39, died after a shooting targeting Fadlallah on Saturday night.Credit:Nine News
“We are asking family, friends and the community to donate what they can and share this page around as we require urgent funds during this time as we cannot afford this service. Every dollar and support us appreciated. May her soul rest in peace.”
The 39-year-old was remembered in a social media tribute from her workplace on Sunday. “We are shattered, our heart is broken, you left us too soon, may your memory be eternal GOD bless your soul. Till we meet again,” the post read.