Two men have been charged with murder over the stabbing death of a father-of-six in a western Sydney ambush and police are investigating whether the “cold-blooded callous attack” was drug related.

Stabbing victim Josese “Joseph” McGoon and a friend had eaten a pizza in their car and were walking to another friend’s home in Guildford on July 20 when three men clad in black and with face coverings jumped out of a vehicle and chased them.

The 37-year-old was severely beaten and stabbed in the stomach during the confrontation on Bangor Street. McGoon’s friend escaped and later drove him to Westmead Hospital, where he died from his injuries.

“For him to be attacked in broad daylight, to lose his life in this manner is horrendous,” homicide squad commander Detective Superintendent Danny Doherty told reporters.

“It’s a cold-blooded callous attack on the streets of Sydney.”

Police are now treating the ambush as a planned attack linked to organised crime, with drugs a possible motive.

Welken Akot, 23, was arrested at Silverwater Correctional Complex on Thursday and charged with murder, participation in a criminal group and contributing to criminal activity. He was refused bail and will appear before Parramatta Local Court on November 21.

It follows the arrest of another 23-year-old man, Nhial Chol Tito, on September 26 when police executed a search warrant on a hotel room in Ryde. He was also charged with murder and failure to allow access to dedicated encrypted criminal communication devices, and is due to appear in Parramatta Local Court on November 21.