A Sydney rapper has been named as a suspect in the brazen underworld killing of underworld figure Niddal Acherkouk.
NSW Police last month issued a warrant for the arrest of Harley Johan, 31, who performs under the stage name ‘YC Ewzy’.
The warrant was issued almost a year after Acherkouk, 31, was blown away at a Surry Hills service station.
Acherkouk, who had links to the Comanchero outlaw motorcycle gang, was ambushed by two masked shooters at the Cleveland Street service station.
Police say the slain organised crime figure had dinner at a nearby Turkish restaurant shortly before he was shot dead about 7.45 pm on November 22, 2024 as he tried to flee.
A global manhunt is now on for Johan, the poncho-wearing rapper turned gunman who investigators believe fled overseas.
A YouTube clip of his song Reckless released in March which has garnered more than 25,000 views is described as ‘a vivid picture of the city’s darker side, caught up in cycles of violence, guns and drugs … where survival often comes at a high price’.
Niddal Acherkouk was shot dead in November 2024
Masked gunmen ambush Niddal Acherkouk
NSW Police last month issued a warrant for the arrest of Harley Johan, 31, (pictured) who performs under the rapper stage name is ‘YC Ewzy’
The two-minute video opens with a scene of masked gunman jumping out of a car and killing a driver as he pulls into an underground car park.
A locked Instagram account bearing his name has more than 6000 followers.
The brazen real-life attack was captured on CCTV and released by NSW Police on Thursday as they appeal for public help to identify the second gunman.
The man in the footage is seen wearing a black Nike hooded jacket, blue track pants and Nike runners, and sped off with his accomplice in a grey Porsche.
Terrified families and diners were seen running for their lives as a series of gunshots rang down the crowded street until the gunmen, who remain on the run, finished the ‘meticulously planned’ execution.
The pair went to extreme lengths to keep their identities hidden by donning large, black ponchos, balaclavas, gloves and long pants which concealed their faces, skin colour and body shape.
They initially fired at Acherkouk’s car after waiting for the underworld figure at the BP service station, where police sources claim the men had been lying in wait.
Acherkouk managed to climb from the driver’s seat to the passenger one and scrambled from his vehicle before fleeing on foot.
Acherkouk had links to the Comanchero bikie gang
Johan (pictured) is wanted by police
The gunmen pursued him, firing as pedestrians fled into nearby stores to avoid any stray bullets.
The Porsche was later found alight in Kensington, with police believing the gunmen fled in another stolen white Audi hatchback.
Investigations under Strike Force Moorlands are ongoing.
Dozens of public shootings, arson attacks and kidnappings across Sydney in late 2024 led police to set up the 150-officer-strong Taskforce Falcon in May to crush the underworld warfare.
Acherkouk learned about the contract out for his assassination less than three weeks before he was shot dead by two cloaked gunmen on Surry Hills’ Crown Street on Friday night.
NSW Police previously revealed that that Acherkouk had links to underworld organisations in Sydney and was known to police at the time of the ‘targeted’ shooting that ended his life.
It’s since been revealed he was understood to be linked to the Comanchero motorcycle gang but was not a member.
NSW Police previously revealed that that Acherkouk had links to underworld organisations in Sydney
Witnesses reported seeing the gunman jump from a car before the shooting, while another witness said they saw a ‘bloodied’ man after the incident
Johan is now the subject of a global manhunt
‘This is an outrageous incident that demonstrated a high level of reckless indifference to the public that were in and around the area around that time,’ South Sydney Superintendent Andrew Garner told reporters last November.
He added that Acherkouk suffered a gunshot wound to his upper body but could not confirm how many shots were fired.
‘He was alone in his vehicle in the service station,’ he said.
‘After that he got out of the vehicle and went on foot down Cleveland Street where he has succumbed to his injuries.’
Witnesses reported seeing the gunman jump from a car before the shooting, while another witness said they saw a ‘bloodied’ man after the incident.
Anyone with information about the incident urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
