Manhunt to find NSW lawyer’s attacker

A manhunt is underway as police search for the brazen attacker who shot dead Vietnamese criminal lawyer Ho Ledinh in a busy southwest Sydney cafe.

The 65-year-old was shot three times through the back at point-blank range outside Happy Cup cafe at Bankstown City Plaza on Tuesday afternoon in front of horrified witnesses.

Homicide squad commander Detective Superintendent Scott Cook says the investigation is in its early stages but officers are treating it as a targeted attack and will look into Mr Ledinh’s clients.

Mr Ledinh’s university friend and NSW Labor MP Shaoquett Moselmane said he was “sickened” and “shattered” by the attack.

“Ho was a good father and a kind-hearted man. He wanted to help his community and the community respected him,” he told NewsCorp Australia.

“The news of his killing sickened me. I was shattered by it. He didn’t deserve to die like this.”

Police aren’t aware of any threats received before the shooting and there was no concern about reprisal attacks, Det Supt Cook added.

The attacker was wearing a dark-coloured cap, dark sunglasses, a high-visibility vest, dark-coloured pants and shoes, grey gloves and a raincoat that was either dark green or black.

Detectives on Wednesday sifted through rubbish bins near the cafe to find a possible link to the attacker.

Det Supt Cook said officers would continue canvassing the area and were searching for a man of Pacific Islander appearance.

He was last seen running down Stewart Lane at Bankstown and remains on the run.

Police have urged anyone with knowledge of the gunman’s whereabouts to contact police but not to approach him.

Law Society of NSW President Doug Humphreys said he’s shocked by the incident and will work quickly to appoint a manager to Mr Ledinh’s Bankstown firm to ensure his clients continue to have access to legal representation.