He lived like a man with nothing to fear. His shooting has left even the underworld shocked

The underworld had largely counted Fadi Haddara as done with the most dangerous days of his old life.

The once flash and fearsome crime boss had slipped into semi-retirement, albeit with some solid encouragement from tobacco rival Kazem Hamad.

The 48-year-old was carrying himself as someone with nothing to fear, living in a home well known to be his and socialising and running his family businesses out of the same small pocket of Altona.

Haddara appeared to be no threat to anyone any more – keeping a low profile, focusing on his family, and even recently opening a paint supply business.

On Sunday night he was ambushed and shot at least three times in his own driveway just before 8pm. Whether it is the start of a whole new conflict or the settling of an old score, Haddara is now fighting for his life.

“You’d think he’d live somewhere better than Altona. It’s where he grew up. [He stayed] probably because that’s what he knows,” an underworld source said.

The ambush was no warning but a concerted attempt to murder him. It had all the hallmarks of a professional, well planned and cleanly executed hit.

Haddara was discovered by a family member next to his black BMW, lying in a pool of blood and with gunshot wounds to his face, stomach and chest.

His four children were inside the home during the ambush. Neighbours heard yelling as detectives arrived at the scene.

Police were yet to identify the getaway vehicle, weapon or any suspects, Detective Inspector Adam Tilley of the armed crime squad said on Monday.

The list of suspects in the shooting includes Haddara’s most recent enemy, The Commission, the organised crime cartel created by Kazem Hamad out of the defeat of the Haddaras (and of many other people) more than two years ago.

But the motive remains a deep mystery. Underworld and police sources say Haddara was not known to be actively feuding with anyone recently, and there have been no incidents that might suggest a reason for such a determined attack.

A number of businesses and homes linked to the wider Haddara clan had been firebombed or subject to drive-by shootings following Hamad’s arrest in Iraq in January as a warning to old rivals testing the water for a return to the illicit tobacco market.

Tilley confirmed that the police Operation Eclipse, tasked with investigating The Commission, is providing intelligence to investigators.