A Sydney teenager has been charged with murder after police allege he operated a drone during a suspected botched gang hit in the city’s west.
Joshua Macdonald, 40, was shot dead at a Merrylands West home on 2 September in what police believe was a case of mistaken identity. He had no known connections to organised crime.
His death followed a separate mistaken identity shooting the previous day, which claimed the life of 23-year-old university student Marco Talia in his Glen Alpine home.
NSW police arrested two men on Friday, aged 18 and 19. Authorities allege the younger suspect was involved in Macdonald’s killing.
“A drone was seized and forensically examined by detectives, who allegedly uncovered evidence suggesting involvement in the fatal shooting in Merrylands,” police said in a statement on Saturday.
The 18-year-old was charged with murder, participating in a criminal group, and contributing to criminal activity, and was expected to appear in bail court on Saturday.
The 19-year-old was charged with participating in a criminal group, contributing to criminal activity, and driving with a suspended licence.
He was granted bail at Liverpool local court on Friday and was scheduled to return to court on 24 September.
NSW police said the 18-year-old was operating a drone when arrested on Friday morning.
“That behaviour is obviously of great concern to us,” Det Supt Joe Doueihi told reporters.
“It’s more than likely that he was involved in some type of criminality and conducting surveillance on someone or some premises. We are still in the process of identifying who that may have been.”
The shooting of Macdonald marks at least the fifth suspected mistaken identity killing in NSW since May 2025, amid fears that reckless overseas criminal leaders are ordering the attacks.
Senior NSW government ministers have insisted the situation is under control.
Last week, acting NSW premier Prue Car said “police are on top of this”.
Police minister Yasmin Catley echoed that sentiment, describing a new criminal model that allegedly outsourced criminal activities to teenagers as “very challenging”.
“Police are doing everything they can,” Catley said.
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