Melbourne gangland figure Sam ‘The Punisher’ Abdulrahim shot dead in ‘targeted’ attack in Preston

Notorious Melbourne gangster Sam ‘The Punisher’ Abdulrahim has been shot dead in front of his girlfriend in a brazen ‘targeted’ assassination in broad daylight.

The former Mongol bikie was shot in the head at the underground carpark of the Quest serviced apartment in High Street, Preston, at 10.30am on Tuesday. He died at the scene.

Police are hunting for “at least one” suspect who fled in a white Porsche, which was found torched in the nearby suburb of Reservoir shortly after the brutal attack.

“At this early stage, police believe the incident was targeted,” the spokesperson said.

“Police (also) believe (the white Porsche) is linked to the fatal shooting.”

Det-Insp. Dean Thomas, from the homicide squad, said police were “still piecing it all together”.

“It appears at this stage that the male was walking towards his car and the offender has approached and a number of shots were fired,” he said.

Det-Insp Thomas said Abdulrahim’s girlfriend, who was at the scene, was “extremely distraught and upset” but managed to escape uninjured.

“This is something that will live with her for a long time,” he said.

“She did her best to render first aid.”

Police who arrived at the scene also tried to revive him before the ambulance arrived.

Abdulrahim’s sister Ektimal took to social media shortly after his death with an extraordinary threat levelled at his killers.

“Whoever shot my brother to death, I’m after u mo..er f...er,” she wrote in the post.

“I know it’s u dog. Never ends here.”

Abdulrahim was a notorious gangland figure believed to have several contracts out on his life.

The former bikie, 32, survived two shootings at his former home in Thomastown in 2024 — one of which was near-fatal.

In that shooting, in May, the ex-kickboxer was lured from his house by a hit-team and 17 shots were fired at him. All of them missed.

Weeks later, gunmen targeted his Thomastown property again but this time the property was vacant.

Abdulrahim also survived another violent shooting in 2022, when gunmen shot him eight times while he was leaving his cousin’s funeral in Fawkner.

He suffered four bullet wounds to his chest but managed to drive to a nearby police station to seek help.

Two suspects fled the country within 48 hours of the attack.

In February 2024, Abdulrahim was due to fight at the Furlan Club at Thornbury in Melbourne’s north before the venue was set alight in an arson attack.

He was jailed for more than three years in 2018 after killing a grandmother in a crash.

Abdulrahim was released on parole in 2019 with time served, but had it revoked six months later by the parole board.

He spent 72 days in custody, including 35 days in solitary confinement, because of concerns he was in danger.

The board’s decision was later overturned by a Victorian Supreme Court judge, who found Abdulrahim had done nothing to warrant his parole being revoked.

Police have asked for anyone with information on Tuesday’s shooting to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or make a report online.