The armed robbery suspect who died after being dumped outside a Sydney hospital was Khaled Dib, a police source has confirmed.
The senior police source, who had investigated the man in the past, said that he was known to police as a drug dealer and armed robber.
Dib was a member of gangs that were involved in a series of armed van robberies, the source said.
Dib was believed to have been one of two masked men, one carrying a firearm, who threatened two Armaguard security guards outside an NAB bank on George Street in Parramatta about 6.30pm yesterday.
One of guards then allegedly shot one of the men forcing them to flee.
Outside Dib's Lidcombe house today about 20 friends and family gathered.
A spokesman for the family said: "We just want to be left alone. It's a very hard time.''
It is understood the guard shot the man after a gun was pointed at him.
No call was made to Auburn Hospital emergency room to say the injured man had been left outside, according to a hospital spokeswoman.
A hospital spokeswoman could not say whether the man was brought inside the hospital or left outside, or how long it was before staff found him dead.
Acting Superintendent David Egan-Lee said two of the guards allegedly shot at the masked men, wounding one, before the two men fled in a white Mitsubishi Lancer with stolen number plates.
News of the man's death spread rapidly through his local community, many of whom converged on the hospital last night, the hospital spokeswoman said.
But contrary to reports, they had not staged a protest, she said.
"There was definitely no protest. There was a large group of grieving relatives and friends, in excess of 100 people. The advice I have is that staff did not feel threatened at any time.''
The robbers were armed with at least two weapons, one of which was a pistol that was recovered at the scene.
Superintendent Egan-Lee said the two shots were fired by the guards and one of the robbers was hit in the chest.
They escaped through a back lane and the Mitsubishi Lancer was seen driving erratically. The robbers were wearing dark hooded jackets and scarves across their faces.
It is believed that none of the guards or the surviving masked man was injured.
The getaway car was later found by police burnt out in Berala.
Rules of engagement
Rod Cowan, who has written extensively about the private security industry, said there were very clear rules on when guards could fire their weapons.
"There has to be a clear and immediate danger to life,'' he said.
"You have to be threatened or someone else has to be threatened to the point where you have no other cause of action than to shoot.''
He said the regulations governing the industry were strict.
"NSW has very, very strict training regulations for security officers. I don't know that anyone nowadays takes the carriage of firearms lightly.''
He said new regulations introduced in recent months had made it more difficult for people to enter the industry, particularly due to the extensive training requirements.
Bryan de Caires, CEO of the Australian Security Industry Association, said the robbery attempt highlighted the "challenging reality'' faced by security guards.
"In NSW over the past two years it's been particularly challenging - there have been just under 30 attacks on cash-in-transit crews in that period.
Armaguard has been contacted for comment.
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