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A 16-year-old boy and two men have been charged with murder over the mistaken-identity shooting of university student Marco Tapia, 23, who was killed in his bed at his family's Glen Alpine home on September 1.
A 16-year-old boy and two men have been charged with murder over the mistaken-identity shooting of a university student in Sydney's south-west four weeks after the killing.
Marco Tapia, 23, was killed while in bed at his family's Glen Alpine home on September 1. Police have confirmed the wrong address was targeted in the alleged botched organised crime killing. Vaifaalie Tuafuti, 23, Omar Mohamed, 22, and a 16-year-old boy who cannot be identified for legal reasons have been charged with murder. They also face two counts of special aggravated break and enter and committing a serious indictable offence, and possessing an unauthorised prohibited firearm.
Police Allegation of Home Invasion Shooting
Emergency services were called to the home about 3:40am on September 1 following reports of a home invasion. Officers were told three unknown offenders had fled the scene before police arrived. Police will allege the three males, including one allegedly armed with a pistol, entered the home and confronted Mr Tapia before he was fatally shot.
NSW Police said in a statement on Wednesday that detectives will allege in court the three males entered the home and confronted Mr Tapia before he was fatally shot. The three charged with murder were extradited from Victoria on September 18, along with 26-year-old Amenah Abusud. Abusud has not been charged with Tapia's murder but she has been charged with criminal group and accessory offences. The trio were taken to Wagga Wagga Police Station and each charged.
They were refused police bail and remanded in custody. All three are due to face court on Wednesday. The two men are set to appear at bail court, while the 16-year-old will appear at a children's court. They remain in custody and are due to face court again on November 13.
Homicide Squad Arrests in Junee
Two other teenage boys have also been charged with offences in connection with the investigation. The arrests followed extensive inquiries by the Homicide Squad under Strike Force Gareno. About 9am on Tuesday, State Crime Command's Homicide Squad officers under Strike Force Gareno arrested the trio in Junee in the state's Riverina region, about 400 kilometres south-west of Sydney.
The shooting sparked widespread concern after it emerged the attackers had targeted the wrong address, killing an innocent university student with no links to organised crime. Tapia had no links to organised crime. Police allege the group worked for the notorious Alameddine crime family in a recent spate of violence against the so-called Coconut Cartel.
The group is also accused of a home invasion in the Sydney suburb of Hurstville, and of shooting cars in Turrella the night before Tapia was killed. Ballistic analysis found discharged cartridge cases at the two scenes were positively matched to the Glen Alpine homicide scene where a firearm was found, a NSW Police investigator testified.
Court Details on Botched Attack Target
The court was told the Victorians left their Airbnb at Campbelltown about 1:50am on September 1 and returned about 4am, where they appear to be in a rush to collect their belongings before all leaving. The court heard allegations of staging vehicles and providing the weapon. Detectives are yet to identify the intended target of the botched attack, but are investigating if the trio was contracted to target a Coconut Cartel member.
Senior police are expected to provide an update later on Wednesday morning. Investigations into the circumstances surrounding the shooting remain ongoing as the charged trio prepare to face court proceedings.
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abcnews:16yo, men charged with murder after Sydney mistaken-identity shooting 
brisbanetimes:Alleged gunman among three charged over student’s mistaken identity murder 
theage:Alleged gunman among three charged over student’s mistaken identity murderThis story was compiled and edited by the HeadTopics newsroom and HT AI from the reports above.
Mistaken Identity Murder Strike Force Gareno Sydney Crime Murder Charges Marco Tapia Shooting Sydney Mistaken-Identity Murder Strike Force Gareno Arrests Alameddine Crime Family Glen Alpine Home Invasion Glen Alpine Murder Mistaken Identity Shooting
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