The victim of an “ambush-style” stabbing in Western Sydney was attacked with machetes, with police believing his death is now likely a case of mistaken identity.
Police on Friday morning said the two teen boys arrested and charged with Luke Manassa’s death on June 26 had extensive criminal histories and links to Sydney street gangs.
Mr Manassa, 21, died on Driftway Drive in Pemulwuy last Thursday after police allege the two boys set upon him about 10.45pm.
Police claim the 16 and 17-year-olds were contracted out to kill someone, but who the intended target was is still being investigated.
The matter was referred to the State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad. (ABC News)
Stabbing victim was ‘innocent’, police say
Homicide Squad Commander Joe Doueihi said Mr Manassa’s family are “absolutely devastated”.
“They [Luke’s family] want everyone to know Luke was an innocent party he was an innocent victim.”
The owner of the home Mr Manassa was killed in front of is “well known” to detectives, police said, and has links to an organised crime network.
Despite the homeowner’s links, Supt Doueihi said the attack on Mr Manassa had all the hallmarks of “disorganised crime” and officers do not have a motive.
“This could well be a case of mistaken identity … it’s probably too early to confirm that Luke was a mistaken identity but it certainly is heading toward that,”
he said.
“We believe they were contracted by someone to conduct this killing, we don’t know [who] these people are.
“It was very, very amateurish.”
Detective Superintendent Joseph Doueihi said Luke Manassa was “innocent”. (ABC News: Jak Rowland)
The Homicide Squad took over the case under Strike Force Hickety to investigate the attack.
On Thursday police arrested the 17-year-old boy in South Penrith after dawn raids there and in Mt Druitt and Woodcroft.
About the same time police arrested the 16-year-old boy in Mount Druitt while in Woodcroft police seized a vehicle they believe was the getaway car.
Both teens were charged with murder and refused bail by police.
The 17-year-old briefly appeared in Parramatta Childrens Court via videolink on Friday.
He did not apply for bail and it was formally refused, with the matter set to return to court on July 11 for mention.
Detectives executed simultaneous search warrants in South Penrith, Mount Druitt and Woodcroft. (Supplied: NSW Police)
Concerns teens are being lured into organised crime
Superintendent Doueihi said one of the teens was on bail at the time Mr Manassa was killed and that both boys had violent criminal histories.
He warned in a week where two 15-year-olds were separately charged with drive-by shootings in Western Sydney that the escalation was worrying.
“I think the problem is these young children don’t understand the consequences of their actions,” Supt Doueihi said.
“They could end up in jail for a very long time, they could be dead themselves or could be the victims of some form of retaliation by the people they target I don’t think they appreciate the consequences.”
Speaking afters the news emerged on Friday, NSW Premier Chis Minns said youth crime needs to be approached differently and from multiple government agencies, including health, education and justice.
“A young child who’s considered not competent to stand trial, it’s not as if that young person is then wrapped up with other support services, they’re just let go immediately. And that cycle of crime, arrest, before the courts continues.
“My big fear is that there’s not a sense of consequence for these terrible behaviours and crimes that are being committed.”
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54m agoFri 4 Jul 2025 at 12:00am
Press conference over
That’s it from Superintendent Joseph Doueihi.
For more coverage follow the story on the ABC News website.
57m agoThu 3 Jul 2025 at 11:58pm
Luke was innocent, police say
Luke Manassa’s family want the public to know the 21-year-old was not known to police for organised crime links.
“Luke’s family are absolutely devastated as you can imagine,” Superintendent Doueihi said.
“I can’t explain what it would be like for a family to endure that they are struggling they are doing it tough.
“They [Luke’s family] want everyone to know Luke was an innocent party he was an innocent victim.”
1h agoThu 3 Jul 2025 at 11:54pm
Teens ‘don’t understand the consequences’
In a week where two 15-year-olds were separately charged with two drive-by shootings in Western Sydney, Supt Doueihi said the spate of teenage criminals is worrying police.
“I think the problem is these young children don’t understand the consequences of their actions,” he said.
“They could end up in jail for a very long time, they could be dead themselves or could be the victims of some form of retaliation by the people they target I don’t think they appreciate the consequences.”
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