New South Wales police are investigating a fatal shooting in Sydney’s west as a possible case of mistaken identity, marking the second deadly shooting in the area within two days. Emergency services responded to reports of gunfire at a residence in Merrylands West around 3:15 p.m. on Wednesday, where a man believed to be in his 30s was found with a gunshot wound. Despite efforts by paramedics, the victim died at the scene. His identity has not yet been formally confirmed.
Authorities noted that the property is known to police for links to organised crime, but said there is no evidence to suggest the victim had any such connections. Superintendent Simon Glasser stated that it remains unclear why the man was at the location and what relationship, if any, he had with the residents. “The person who we believe has been shot has no adverse holdings with police. People that are linked to this address are known to ... organised crime,” he said. Supt Glasser added that the investigation is in its early stages but that mistaken identity is a plausible explanation.
This shooting follows another fatal incident on Tuesday when 23-year-old Marco Tapia was shot in his bed at around 3:40 a.m. after multiple intruders allegedly broke into a home in Glen Alpine, near Campbelltown in southwest Sydney. Police are also treating that case as a potential mistake, noting Tapia had no known links to criminal activity besides a minor traffic offence. Tapia’s martial arts gym paid tribute to him publicly, describing him as “one of us forever.”
Law enforcement officials have linked some recent shootings to escalating tensions between the Alameddine network, a notorious crime family, and the Coconut Cartel, a reportedly emerging crime-for-hire group. Acting Superintendent Gretchen Atkins of Campbelltown police acknowledged social media discussions surrounding the Glen Alpine shooting and confirmed that all leads and information remain under consideration.
The incidents have drawn political responses, with New South Wales opposition leader Kellie Sloane characterising the rise in gang-related violence as out of control. She expressed concern about innocent people being caught in the crossfire, citing recent cases including the abduction and murder of Sydney grandfather Chris Baghsarian in February. Sloane called for stronger government actions to address the shootings.
In contrast, Police Minister Yasmin Catley criticised Sloane over her stance on the state’s gun buyback program, introduced following the December Bondi massacre. Catley accused Sloane of opposing national gun buyback reforms and suggested that her position indirectly supports increased gun availability. “She wants more guns on the street and wants to blame the police for not doing their job ... I’m not tolerating that, I won’t have a bar of that,” Catley said. The gun buyback scheme remains a contentious topic amid ongoing debates about public safety and crime prevention in New South Wales.