Sydney Underworld Figure Gunned Down In Vietnam As Police Hunt Two Australians Linked To Investigation

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A brazen gangland-style execution in Vietnam has triggered a major international investigation after Sydney underworld figure Lorenzo Lemalu was shot dead outside a restaurant in Ho Chi Minh City — with authorities now urgently trying to locate two Australian men they believe may assist the case.

According to reports, 24-year-old Lemalu — described by Australian media as a senior figure linked to the Coconut Cartel — was ambushed Thursday night while standing with a group outside a restaurant in Ho Chi Minh City. CCTV footage reportedly shows a gunman calmly approaching the group before suddenly opening fire at close range.

Investigators say Lemalu was struck multiple times before the shooter allegedly followed him into the restaurant, where further shots were believed to have been fired. He later died from his injuries despite emergency efforts at the scene.

Vietnamese police have since issued a public notice seeking information about two Australian nationals — Lang Kenny Trong Minh Do, 36, and White Justin John, 39 — who authorities say may be able to assist the murder investigation. Police have stressed they are being sought for questioning as part of the inquiry.

The case has immediately sent shockwaves through both Vietnam and Australia’s criminal intelligence networks because of growing fears the killing may be connected to escalating tensions inside Sydney’s organised crime world.

The shooting also came just days after another violent attack in Canley Heights, Sydney, where five men believed to have links to the Coconut Cartel were shot, leaving one dead and several others critically injured. Investigators are reportedly examining whether the two incidents could be connected.

Police in Australia are now reportedly on high alert over concerns of possible retaliation.

Social media has erupted since footage of the Vietnam attack began circulating online, with many users describing the shooting as “straight out of a movie” because of how openly it unfolded in a busy public street.

For investigators, however, the most urgent question remains what exactly happened in the seconds before the gunman opened fire — and whether Lemalu himself was specifically targeted.

As authorities in Vietnam continue the homicide investigation and search for the two Australians, the killing is being closely watched by both law enforcement and the Australian underworld.

For many following the case, one thing is already clear:

What happened on that Ho Chi Minh City street may have been far more than an isolated shooting — and investigators on both sides of the world are now racing to find out why.