Crime

Teen drone operator charged with murder in Sydney shooting

An 18-year-old has been charged over a fatal shooting in western Sydney on September 2 that police believe was a case of mistaken identity.

12:19 AM

Teen drone operator charged with murder in Sydney shooting

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

Joshua Macdonald, 40, was shot at a Merrylands West home on the afternoon of September 2. He died at the scene. Police believe the shooting was a case of mistaken identity.

Macdonald was not known to police and had no links to organised crime, according to authorities.

About 5:30 a.m. 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.

The 18-year-old man has been charged with murdering Macdonald. A 19-year-old was also arrested in connection with the incident.