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

An 18-year-old has been charged with murder after being accused of providing drone surveillance during a mistaken identity underworld attack that resulted in the death of 40-year-old tradie Joshua Macdonald in Merrylands West, Sydney. The teenager was arrested in West Hoxton on Friday by the Raptor Squad and is expected to appear before a bail court on Saturday.

Police seized a drone linked to the man, which allegedly showed his involvement in the killing of the much-loved Western Sydney tradesman. The intended target of the attack was believed to be a member of the notorious Alameddine crime family, who remain in Lebanon, while a surge in violence is linked to a feud between them and the Coconut Cartel, a crime network in Western Sydney.

Macdonald's death marked the seventh mistaken identity fatality linked to the conflict over the past 18 months, leading to renewed focus on legislation targeting Sydney's underworld. During the operation, a 19-year-old was also arrested and charged with participating in a criminal group and driving with a suspended licence.

Brief written by urgent.news from ABC News AU's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.