a window with a hole after it was shot

A man and a teenager have been charged over a shooting at a funeral venue in Sydney. (ABC News)

In short:

Two people have been charged after shots were fired at the advertised venue of a wake for slain Sydney crime boss Lorenzo Lemalu.

Police allege a 17-year-old boy fired 30 rounds at the venue in Sydney’s south-west.

A 23-year-old man was also charged over the shooting.

Police say a 17-year-old boy fired 30 rounds at the advertised venue of a wake for slain Sydney crime boss Lorenzo Lemalu at the weekend.

The 17-year-old is one of two people charged over the shooting at the venue in Sydney’s south-west.

Police on Saturday afternoon responded to reports shots had been fired at a Punchbowl venue, with video shared on social media appearing to show gunmen shooting from inside a car at the property.

No injuries were reported.

police officers investigate a public place shooting at punchbowl

No injuries were reported after the shooting. (ABC News)

The venue had been advertised as the location of Lemalu’s funeral, but plans changed and the memorial was held at Lakemba Mosque on Sunday.

Police believe Lemalu was the head of the so-called “Coconut Cartel”, a gang involved in tit-for-tat shootings with the Alameddine crime family and whose name comes from a historic slur against Pasifika people.

Lemalu was shot dead in Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam on May 21 in an attack that two Samoan men have since confessed on Vietnamese TV to committing.

Police were also called to nearby Gillian Place in Punchbowl after reports of a fire on Saturday and found an abandoned car alight.

Three people with faces and tattooed arms blurred stand behind large image of man with shaved head, flowers behind them

Lorenzo Lemalu’s wake on Sunday went ahead after a heavy police presence surrounding his funeral at Lakemba. (Supplied)

Following police inquiries, a 17-year-old boy was arrested during a vehicle stop in Picnic Point on Monday afternoon.

He was charged with firing a firearm at a dwelling in organised crime activity, damaging a property by fire/explosive and participating in a group contributing to criminal activity.

He was refused bail to appear at a children’s court.

A 23-year-old man, Ronald Samuel Donovan was also arrested during searches on Monday at Airds and Busby, in which police allegedly seized ammunition.

The man was charged with firing a firearm at not dwelling, disregarding safety and participate criminal group contribute criminal activity.

He was refused bail.

Arrested teen allegedly the gunman

Jason Box at a police press conference infront of police signage boards

Superintendent Box addressing the media on Tuesday over the arrest of two people. (ABC News)

Speaking on Tuesday afternoon, Detective Superintendent Jason Box said police would allege the 17-year-old arrested on Monday was the gunman who fired on the venue.

“We allege that this 17-year-old male was the person who fired close to 30 rounds from that vehicle,” he said.

Semi-automatic rifle barrel outside an car window with smoke coming out end. Glass and dark building in background

Police said vision of the shooting helped lead to the arrests. (ABC News)

When asked about footage posted on a gangland social media page showing the shooting, Superintendent Box said detectives used it as a tool to track down the pair who had since been arrested.

“That footage … shows, if anything, a total disregard for public safety. They were laughing throughout,” he said.

“Close to 30 rounds were shot in this premises. They had no indication if it was occupied or not.

“Those that were to attend the wake were obviously the intended targets of the shooting due to their association with Mr Lemalu.”

Sydney’s era of ‘disorganised crime’

Hooded man police tape CCTV graphic

One of the state’s top police officers has promised feuding gangs bringing terror to Sydney’s streets will not exist “by the time we finish” as police stare down a new era of disorganised crime.

Superintendent Box warned a third person wanted by police over the shooting, and the two already in custody, could face reprisals from the underworld gangs they were contracted to attack.

“The best option is to hand yourself in. We know who you are. We will find you,”

Superintendent Box said.

“Not only have they got the concern about going to jail for an extended period, they’ve also got to consider that they’ve committed serious acts of violence on behalf of organised crime networks against other organised crime networks.

“They’ve been identified now, and they themselves, their friends, their families and associates will become targets. It’s not going to get any easier from here on in.”

Lemalu’s remains were returned to his family last week and a small crowd of mourners attended Lakemba Mosque on Sunday under a heavy police presence.

SOURCE: ABC NEWS

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-06-09/nsw-police-charge-two-over-punchbowl-funeral-venue-shooting/106776342