{
  "id": 10873141,
  "title": "Alleged hired guns silent on uni student's trigger-man",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/alleged-hired-guns-silent-on-uni-students-trigger-man",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-30T03:45:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Discovered",
    "slug": "discovered",
    "url": "https://areanews.com.au/story/9359855/alleged-hired-guns-silent-on-uni-students-trigger-man"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Claudia Tapia, mother of Marco Tapia, expressed the emotional impact of her son's murder in a recent statement. Marco, a biomedical engineering student and committed Christian, was shot dead in his home in Glen Alpine, southwest Sydney, on September 1. Two men, Vaifaalie Tuafuti, 22, and Omar Mohamed, 23, were charged alongside a 16-year-old boy with Marco's murder and numerous other offenses. The family welcomed the charges but acknowledged that every development in the case served as a stark reminder of Marco's death. Claudia described Marco as a warm, caring, and loving individual who had a future and was already making a difference in others' lives. The police allege that the trio entered Marco's home armed with a handgun and crowbar, but they have not named any individual as the shooter. Detective Superintendent Joe Doueihi stated that none of the trio were co-operating with the investigation. The trio, originating from Victoria, had previously been extradited to NSW for minor offenses. Police allege they collected an interstate criminal contract, possibly commissioned from overseas. Their charges include murder, two counts of special aggravated break and enter, committing a serious indictable offense with a weapon, and possessing an unauthorized prohibited firearm. Neither of the charged men applied for bail, and they will remain in custody until their cases return to Wagga Wagga Local Court in November. The incident, which occurred in early September, is believed to be the first of two alleged hits in as many days. The police claim they identified the intended target, who lived on Marco's street in Glen Alpine. Two boys aged 14 and 16 were arrested and charged on September 16 for their alleged roles in the murder, but they too will be tried in a children's court on November 13. The string of violence in early September has prompted public and political outrage, highlighting the increasing instances of criminal activity in recent times.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}