A man has been shot dead in the car park of a community centre in what police have described as a targeted shooting in Sydney’s southwest.

News Corp identified the victim as prominent boxing coach Louis Meehan, 32, who was reportedly gunned down after walking out of a gym at Punchbowl.

Meehan was ambushed in the carpark of the Punchbowl Community Centre on Rossmore Avenue, with dozens of children nearby.

Emergency services were called to the community centre at about 5.50pm on Wednesday, NSW Police said.

Paramedics treated the 32-year-old man at the scene, but could not save him.

Police say a silver Lexus sedan was spotted driving away from the area after the incident.

Acting Superintendent Dean Johnstone said the man was known to police but he had not been formally identified.

Johnstone said the shooting was believed to be targeted, but would not confirm if it was linked to organised crime.

He described the shooting as a “callous act” that could easily have endangered others.

“We believe this was a targeted attack, but we do not believe that other persons were at risk,” Johnstone told a press conference.

“However, obviously in a public place like this, those actions cannot be tolerated as it potentially endangered innocent members of the community.”

A crime scene has been established at the site and police say investigations are continuing.

-with AAP