Teens charged with murder over Sydney mistaken-identity shooting - ABC News & Headlines – Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Police have charged two boys, aged 14 and 16, over the shooting death of Marco Tapia in Glen Alpine. (ABC News)
Two boys, aged 14 and 16, have been charged with murder over the alleged mistaken-identity shooting of a university student in Sydney's south-west.
Marco Tapia was shot dead at a Glen Alpine home on September 1, with detectives later confirming the wrong house was targeted.
Officers were told the offenders left the property shortly before police arrived.
Search warrants were executed at two Fairfield properties at 10am on Wednesday as part of investigations into the shooting, with two teenagers arrested and taken to Cabramatta Police Station.
The teenagers were charged with murder, participating in a criminal group to contribute to criminal activity, possessing an unauthorised prohibited firearm and two counts of driving a conveyance without the owner's consent.
Marco Tapia, 23, was shot dead earlier this month. (Supplied)
The 14-year-old boy received an additional charge of damage to property by fire/explosion.
Detectives will allege the teens staged vehicles and provided a weapon for the gunman.
They were refused bail and must appear in children's court today.
Investigations into the shooting continue.
Mr Tapia's death was the first mistaken identity shooting to occur in Sydney within 48 hours this month, with tradesman Joshua Macdonald gunned down outside a Merrylands West property on September 2.
Two children were present at the time of the shooting.
Joshua Macdonald did not appear to have any criminal connections. He is pictured with his aunt Darlene. (Supplied)
Police sources have told the ABC it was unclear why Mr Macdonald was at the property and that he did not appear to have any criminal connections.
The violence, attributed to underworld tensions, sparked another raft of proposed reforms to bolster authorities' ability to prevent and prosecute organised crime networks.
The Minns government will introduce the proposed changes in parliament today.
