Western Sydney Residents in Fear After String of Mistaken-Identity Shootings

Residents in Western Sydney are living in fear after a spate of mistaken-identity shootings linked to organised crime, with eight innocent people reportedly killed in such incidents since 2021.

Two innocent people were killed in separate shootings less than 48 hours apart last month, sparking concerns about the prevalence of gun and organised crime in the area.

Fear and Anger in the Community

Beauty therapist Jessica, who has lived in the Merrylands area her whole life, said people were fearful and angry. "People that are dear to me, their houses have gotten shot at," she said. "It has put a lot of fear into us and it's not just about being involved in crime anymore. It could be mistaken identity or wrong place, wrong time. It's even happening in daylight now."

Cumberland City Council Mayor Ola Hamed said it was "terrifying" that the shootings were encroaching on public spaces. "It is unacceptable that innocent people have been caught up in the crossfire," Cr Hamed said.

Recent Shootings

Marco Tapia, a university student, was killed at a home in Glen Alpine last month. Two 16-year-old boys and a 14-year-old boy have been charged with the alleged mistaken-identity murder.

Following charges laid, Mr Tapia's mother, Claudia Tapia, released a statement which said the committed Christian and volunteer "lived a life of faith, service, generosity and purpose".

Joshua Macdonald, an innocent tradie, was shot dead in the front doorway of a Merrylands West home near a school about 3:15pm, within 48 hours of the Glen Alpine incident.

Police Response

Detective Superintendent Joe Doueihi said a group of three males charged with the alleged murder intended to target someone who lived on the same street as Mr Tapia. "We will allege they were contracted as hired guns by an organised crime group to attend New South Wales [from Victoria] and commit these violent acts, including the murder of Mr Tapia," Superintendent Doueihi said.

Acting Chief Superintendent Matt Craft said NSW Police was identifying threats early, disrupting criminal networks and holding people accountable. "In September alone, Taskforce Falcon has conducted over 668 proactive taskings, which can vary from simple door knocks to the foiling of live murder plots," he said. "This year alone, [there have been] over 100 acts of violence or murders that we've been able to interdict, talk to individuals, and prevent them from occurring. The community is safer as a consequence of that."

Community Impact

Jessica said hearing about her clients' brushes with recent gun-related incidents and underworld shootings had "really hit home". She said an 11-year-old boy who died after being shot in the face at Norwest last month, in a home with men linked to organised crime present, went to a client's daughter's school.

Glen Alpine business owner Jon said the incident was "unnerving". "Mistaken identity, it just leaves you wondering if there's a drug dealer or someone with the same name as me, that they [criminals] are going to kick my front door down," he said.

Jon said his friends were "really quite angry that someone comes into their neighbourhood and does that to some poor, innocent young man".

Jessica said she had clients who live near where Mr Macdonald was killed in Merrylands West. "Their roads were closed off. Clients couldn't get through to pick up their kids," she said. "It's not safe. It's very scary."