An 18-year-old drone operator charged with murder over the fatal shooting of Joshua Macdonald was allegedly carrying out another criminal surveillance operation when he was arrested in western Sydney.
New South Wales police detained the teenager in West Hoxton early on Friday after a member of the public reported unusual drone activity near Liverpool. Officers allege he was operating the drone for criminal purposes, although they had not established who was being watched.
The teenager was arrested alongside 19-year-old Ratu Viliame Koroitamana, who was driving the car. Koroitamana, an emerging Cronulla Sharks player, has been charged with driving while disqualified and participating in a criminal group to contribute to criminal activity. He has not been charged over Macdonald’s death.
Police allege the teenager flew a commercially available drone from about two streets away from Bruce Street in Merrylands West, where Macdonald was shot on September 2. They claim he relayed information to the attackers.
Macdonald, 40, died at the scene. Police believe he was mistaken for someone else and said he was not known to them and had no links to organised crime.
Drone operator charged with murder
A drone seized by detectives was forensically examined, with police alleging that evidence found on it indicated involvement in the shooting. The teenager has been charged with murder and participating in a criminal group to contribute to criminal activity.
He was refused police bail and was due to appear in court on Saturday. The alleged gunman has not been identified.
Homicide Squad Commander Detective Superintendent Joe Doueihi said police were concerned by the alleged surveillance operation in West Hoxton.
“More than likely he was involved in criminality and conducting surveillance on someone for some purpose. I’m glad today we have foiled it,” he said.
Mr Doueihi said the teenager had no known affiliation with criminal gangs, but had a history of property and weapons offences. Police allege organised crime networks are increasingly using drones to monitor potential targets before and during assassinations.
Koroitamana’s player manager, Dixon McIver, said the young player had made a “very silly mistake from a young man in the wrong place at the wrong time”.
“He had no idea what he was doing, who he was driving. He’s just a silly naive young man … I certainly hope that was the case as opposed to knowing who he was driving and for what purpose,” Mr McIver said.
The Cronulla Sharks have arranged a lawyer for Koroitamana, who is contracted to the club for next year.
