The 32-year-old Thomastown man was gunned down as he walked to his car with a woman in a car park on High Street at Preston in Melbourne's north about 10.30am on Tuesday, Homicide Squad Detective Inspector Dean Thomas said.
He died at the scene after attempts at first aid by the woman, who police believe is his girlfriend, police and paramedics.
"She's extremely upset and distraught and she's doing the best to speak to us and provide us with whatever information," Det Insp Thomas said.
Dozens of officers and police cars blocked an 100-metre stretch of road outside an apartment hotel as detectives and forensics crews came and went.
A bullet casing was on the road about 20m from the hotel, where police believed Abdulrahim had been staying as recently as Monday.
The victim was believed to have returned to Melbourne from overseas in the past week and Det Insp Thomas confirmed authorities had previously warned Abdulrahim of threats to his life.
Sam "The Punisher" Abdulrahim had previously been warned about threats to life, police said. (Diego Fedele/AAP PHOTOS)
"We had nothing at this stage to suggest there was a live threat that was imminent because if we did, we would have done what we could to share that information with him," he said.
Det Insp Thomas said a Porsche SUV was found burnt out about 4km away at Reservoir an hour after the shooting and may be connected.
A group of people were seen speaking to an officer as they sat out the front of a neighbouring business inside police perimeters.
"Family and friends are very, very distraught, and understandably so, they've lost a loved one," Det Insp Thomas said.
A gun cartridge on a road near the hotel where police believed Sam Abdulrahim had stayed. (James Ross/AAP PHOTOS)
The homicide detective said police were about retaliatory attacks but reassured the community there was no suggestion of any more violence.
"Retaliation doesn't lead to anything other than tit-for-tat, backwards and forwards, and we don't want that to occur," he said.
"There will be a high-visible police presence in the area."
Detectives are still piecing together how many people were involved in the ambush, sifting through CCTV.
People sat in front of a neighbouring business inside police perimeters. (James Ross/AAP PHOTOS)
An associate of Abdulrahim posted a tribute on social media.
"It is with great sadness that our dear brother Sam Abdulrahim has tragically passed away and returned to his Lord," the associate posted to Facebook.
"May Allah have mercy on his soul, forgive his sins and give his family patience and strength."
Abdulrahim had survived multiple attempts on his life.
Forensic detectives are combing the scene for evidence into the fatal shooting. (James Ross/AAP PHOTOS)
In May 2024 shots were fired at his Thomastown home, injuring the bikie-turned-boxer and in August the house was set alight.
He survived a shooting at Fawkner in June 2022.
He was jailed for more than three years in 2018 after killing a grandmother in a crash and was attacked with a rock while in prison.
Abdulrahim was released on parole in 2019 with time served, but had it revoked six months later by the parole board when police feared he was the target of three shootings.
Sam Abdulrahim has survived previous shootings. (Diego Fedele/AAP PHOTOS)
He spent 72 days in custody, including 35 days in solitary confinement, because of concerns he was in danger.
The board's decision was overturned by a Victorian Supreme Court judge, who found Abdulrahim had done nothing to warrant his parole being revoked.
In February 2024, arsonists targeted two Melbourne venues in the lead-up to a fight Abdulrahim was due to be in.
20°C