A Sydney teenager has been charged with murder in connection with the shooting death of 40-year-old Joshua Macdonald in Merrylands West. Police allege that the 18-year-old was involved in a botched gang-related attack, where Macdonald was shot dead on 2 September. According to authorities, the incident may have been a case of mistaken identity. Macdonald was not known to police and had no ties to organized crime. The shooting follows another mistaken identity case just a day earlier, in which 23-year-old university student Marco Talia was killed at his home in Glen Alpine. Police arrested two men, aged 18 and 19, in connection with Macdonald’s death. The 18-year-old was charged with murder, participating in a criminal group, and contributing to criminal activity. He is expected to appear in bail court later this week. The 19-year-old was charged with similar offenses but was granted bail in a local court on Friday. He is scheduled to return to court on 24 September. Police said the 18-year-old was operating a drone at the time of his arrest, raising concerns about the use of such technology in criminal activities. Detectives have reportedly found evidence on the drone that links the suspect to the fatal shooting. Detective Superintendent Joe Doueihi said the drone operation was of significant concern, suggesting the teenager may have been conducting surveillance on a person or property as part of criminal activity. "We are still in the process of identifying who that may have been," he said. The use of drones in such crimes has raised questions about how easily such technology can be used for illegal purposes. The killing of Macdonald is the fifth suspected mistaken identity shooting in New South Wales since May 2025. Authorities have expressed concerns that these incidents may be linked to reckless actions by overseas criminal groups. However, senior NSW government officials have insisted the situation is under control. Acting Premier Prue Car stated that police are "on top of this," while Police Minister Yasmin Catley acknowledged the challenges posed by a new criminal model that allegedly involves outsourcing criminal activities to teenagers. She emphasized that police are working hard to address the issue.