An 18-year-old drone operator has been charged with murder over the fatal shooting of electrician Joshua MacDonald, 40, in what police believe was a case of mistaken identity in Sydney's west. MacDonald was walking to a house on Bruce Street, Merrylands West, on 2 September when he was shot dead; he had no known links to organised crime but was reportedly visiting a property whose occupants are allegedly well known to police for criminal activity. The case matters as part of a wider pattern of suspected contract-style shootings targeting the wrong people in Sydney.

The suspect, named as Jimmy Schulz, was arrested in West Hoxton and charged with murder and participating in a criminal group, with a drone allegedly seized as evidence linking him to the attack. A 19-year-old was also charged with participating in a criminal group and was refused bail. MacDonald's aunt and uncle said he died shielding his best friend and the friend's two young daughters, and questioned why police had not done more despite surveillance suggesting the target house was being watched. The killing came a day after a similar shooting in Glen Alpine claimed the life of Marco Tapia, 23, with detectives investigating whether both attacks were organised from overseas using young local offenders.