Teen drone operator charged with murder over alleged role in deadly shooting

An 18-year-old drone operator has been charged over his alleged involvement in a fatal shooting in western Sydney earlier this month.

Joshua Macdonald was shot at a Merrylands West home on the afternoon of September 2, in a case police believe was mistaken identity. The 40-year-old died at the scene.

Joshua Macdonald was killed in a shooting at Merrylands West on September 2.Nine NewsMacdonald was not known to police and had no links to organised crime.

About 5.30am on Friday, Raptor Squad detectives arrested two men, aged 18 and 19, in West Hoxton and took them to Liverpool police station. Police allege the younger man is a drone operator.

“A drone was seized and forensically examined by detectives, who allegedly uncovered evidence to suggest involvement in the fatal shooting in Merrylands,” NSW Police said in a statement on Saturday morning.

An 18-year-old man and alleged drone operator has been charged with murdering Macdonald.NSW PoliceThe 18-year-old man has been charged with murder and participating in a criminal group to contribute to criminal activity. He was refused police bail and is due to face court on Saturday.

The 19-year-old man has been charged with participating in a criminal group to contribute to criminal activity and driving a motor vehicle while his licence was suspended. He was refused police bail and faced Liverpool Local Court on Friday, where he was granted conditional bail and will return to court on September 24.

Homicide Squad Commander Detective Superintendent Joe Doueihi is due to hold a press conference later on Saturday morning in relation to the arrests.

Police sources with knowledge of the investigation into Macdonald’s murder but not permitted to speak publicly had alleged to this masthead that the assailants’ target was instead Moshtaba Hafizi, a man police allege has longstanding links to the notorious Alameddine crime family.

Macdonald was killed the day after university student Marco Tapia, 23, was shot in bed in his Glen Alpine home in another case believed to be mistaken identity.

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