A man shot dead in front of two young children may have been the innocent victim of another botched gangland attack, police say.

The man, aged in his 40s, was shot in the doorway of a home at Merrylands West, 30 minutes west of Sydney’s CBD, about 3.15pm on Wednesday.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Second deadly Sydney shooting in 24 hours

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Police raced to Bruce St and did what they could until paramedics arrived and took over. Sadly, the man could not be saved.

Superintendent Simon Glasser said the home is well known to authorities although the victim has “no adverse holdings with police” and “no links to organised crime”.

“It’s very early on in the investigation however tragically that is a possibility that the wrong person has been shot by these offenders,” Glasser said.

Police at the scene in Merrylands West. Credit: 7NEWS

A man in his 40s was shot dead. Credit: 7NEWS

Witnesses told 7NEWS they heard up to six gunshots in Wednesday’s emergency, which took place in an area close to a school and early education centre.

“This occurred around the approximate time of most schools finishing,” Glasser said.

“There are a number of schools in the vicinity, a number of parks.

“This is a highly dangerous and reckless act that’s been carried out here in a public street.”

Police said a grey Audi sedan left the area westbound along Bruce St shortly after the shooting.

Police will probe various underworld conflicts as part of their inquiry.

“The actual intended target will form part of our investigations to work out exactly who that may have been,” Glasser said.

Witnesses heard up to six gunshots. Credit: 7NEWS

Police are searching for the offenders. Credit: 7NEWS

One local, Ray Semaan, said the area is generally safe and he walks with his wife every night.

“What can we say? We hope everything will be well after,” he said.

“Of course (it is scary). When someone is shot, it’s scary.”

The shooting comes a day after university student Marco Tapia, 23, was shot dead in his home at Glen Alpine in the early hours of Tuesday.

Tapia had nothing more than a traffic offence on his record and detectives are investigating if his death was the result of mistaken identity.

Anyone with information should contact Crime Stoppers.