The hunt is continuing for a man who stabbed a “well-liked” suburban rugby league player to death outside a busy restaurant in Sydney’s inner west, as his loved ones mourn.
Friends and family gathered outside Guzman y Gomez on Marrickville Rd on Tuesday night, to remember 32-year-old Sitaleki Filihiahekava, the day after he was fatally stabbed at the location about 7.40pm on Monday.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Underworld links probed after man stabbed to death in Sydney.
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Horrified diners and witnesses watched on as first responders tried to save him, but Filihiahekava died at the scene.
Cards attached to flowers left at the scene on Tuesday paid tribute to “Big Leki”.
“Rest in peace my brother,” a card read.
“Long live Leks!” read another.
7NEWS understands Filihiahekava had ties to Sydney’s underworld, as an associate of slain gangland figure Danny Radulovic and a friend of the brothers who were shot at a barber shop just metres from where the 32-year-old was killed.
NSW Police acting Superintendent Ben Kennis said investigators believed the attack was “somewhat targeted”.
“It was not a random attack on Marrickville Rd, the community can be assured of that,” he said.
Detectives are still searching for Filihiahekava’s attacker and the weapon used.
“That offender is currently unknown … he was last seen running down Silver St in Marrickville,” Kennis said.
Minutes after his death, Filihiahekava’s family ran to the scene to find his body covered by a sheet on the footpath.
“That’s my f****** brother,” a distraught relative can be heard yelling in one video taken in the aftermath of the stabbing.
Kennis described the crime scene as “highly emotive”.
“Family and friends did converge,” he said.
“I can’t say with any certainty how they found out about what happened.”
One man breached the crime scene and had to be restrained, while an officer drew their taser but did not deploy it in response, he said.
Filihiahekava’s friend Mohamad Sakr told 7NEWS many were remembering the 32-year-old lovingly as “uncle Leki”.
“He showed the love and devotion an uncle naturally would show to those around him,” he said.
Filihiahekava, a member of Mascot Junior Rugby League club, is also being remembered through tributes on social media.
“It is with sincere regret we advise the passing of one of our Club’s players, Sitaleki Filihiahekava, last evening in terrible circumstances,” club president Frank Cookson said on Facebook.
“Leki was a well-liked and respected integral member of our A Reserve grade premiership team two weeks ago when he performed admirably.
“To the extensive Filihiahekava family and Leki’s multitude of friends we express our deepest sympathy.
“RIP Leki, your happy, friendly personality will be greatly missed.”
Police are appealing for more footage as officers continue investigating.
– With AAP
