By Jorge Branco, Sean Thompson, Mikala Theocharous of 9News
A manhunt is underway for an alleged killer after a suspected targeted attack at Marrickville left a “well-liked” rugby league player dead and his family desperate for answers.
Emergency services were called to Marrickville Road in Sydney’s Inner West at about 7.40pm last night after reports that a man in his 30s had been attacked.
He has since been identified as 32-year-old rugby league player Sitaleki Filihiahekava.
Paramedics performed CPR but Filihiahekava died at the scene outside a Guzman y Gomez fast food restaurant.
Police said a man who they believe could be involved was last seen running down Silver Street in Marrickville shortly after the attack.
Filihiahekava played for the Mascot Juniors.
Club stalwart Frank Cookson said he would be “greatly missed,” in a post to Facebook.
“It is with sincere regret we advise the passing of one of our Clubs players Sitaleki Filihiahekava last evening in terrible circumstances,” the post read.
“Leki was a well-liked and respected integral member of our A Reserve grade Premiership team two weeks ago where he performed admirably.
“To the extensive Filihiahekava family and Leki’s multitude of friends we express our deepest sympathy.”
Inner West Command Acting Superintendent Ben Kennis reassured the public that it was not a random attack.
“We believe at this point that the two people met, and the attack was somewhat targeted,” Kennis said.
“It was not a random attack on Marrickville Road … It’s clear that they did know each other.”
Kennis said CCTV showed the pair having a brief encounter before Filihiahekava was allegedly stabbed.
He could not confirm that a knife had been used in the incident.
“I don’t know if it’s a knife, I know it was a sharp instrument, I can’t say with any certainty what the weapon was.”
A weapon had not yet been recovered, he also said.
The attack sparked a frenzy of activity around Filihiahekava’s body, with the surrounding streets placed into lockdown for several hours to preserve the crime scene.
Kennis confirmed that Filihiahekava ‘s family was eating at a restaurant nearby when the attack happened.
Several people, understood to be family members of the Filihiahekava, tried to see his body but were pushed back by police.
“It was highly emotive … a male did breach the crime scene, and had to be restrained by police,” he said.
He also said that a Taser was drawn in an attempt to keep them away from the scene, but it was not deployed.
Witnesses told 9News that emergency responders tried to desperately to keep Filihiahekava alive.
“We just saw one guy on the floor and the police was helping him,” a woman said.
“And then after we came back from Woolies the guy had passed away.
“It makes me so sad because I’m from overseas and I know that this country is so safe. And to be honest, I didn’t expect this kind of thing to happen.”
The knifeman is still on the run and police are appealing for help to track him down.
NSW Police said there was no clear motive for the attack and no information on the potential suspect has been released.
