Alleged drone operator charged with murder after mistaken identity shooting in Sydney
News Source
β’Sat, 12 Sep 2026 04:37:50 GMT
π° What Happened
NSW police have charged an 18-year-old Sydney man with murder over the shooting death of Joshua Macdonald. Macdonald, 40, was shot at a home in Merrylands West on 2 September. Police believe it may have been a case of mistaken identity.
Police arrested two men, aged 18 and 19, on Friday. They say the younger man was operating a drone when he was arrested. Detectives seized the drone and checked it in a lab. They claim it holds evidence linking him to the killing.
Police believe the drone was being used to keep watch on a person or a building. The 18-year-old faces charges of murder, taking part in a criminal group and helping criminal activity.
π The Backstory
Macdonald was not known to police and had no links to organised crime. His death came one day after another mistaken identity shooting in Sydney. University student Marco Talia, 23, was shot dead in his home at Glen Alpine.
Both cases have sparked concern about paid hitmen. A separate Guardian report asked whether these killings are the work of Australia's 'crimetasker' economy, where violence is ordered online.
π― Why It Matters
Two innocent men were killed in their own homes within two days. It shows how gang violence can reach people with no links to crime at all, in ordinary suburbs.
NSW police have charged an 18-year-old Sydney man with murder over the shooting death of Joshua Macdonald. Macdonald, 40, was shot at a home in Merrylands West on 2 September. Police believe it may have been a case of mistaken identity.
Police arrested two men, aged 18 and 19, on Friday. They say the younger man was operating a drone when he was arrested. Detectives seized the drone and checked it in a lab. They claim it holds evidence linking him to the killing.
Police believe the drone was being used to keep watch on a person or a building. The 18-year-old faces charges of murder, taking part in a criminal group and helping criminal activity.
Macdonald was not known to police and had no links to organised crime. His death came one day after another mistaken identity shooting in Sydney. University student Marco Talia, 23, was shot dead in his home at Glen Alpine.
Both cases have sparked concern about paid hitmen. A separate Guardian report asked whether these killings are the work of Australia's 'crimetasker' economy, where violence is ordered online.
Two innocent men were killed in their own homes within two days. It shows how gang violence can reach people with no links to crime at all, in ordinary suburbs.