Sydney Police probe double shooting cases as mistaken targets

Thairath•International•11d ago

Reader Briefing

Sydney police are investigating two separate fatal shootings within 48 hours that may be the result of organized crime groups targeting the wrong individuals.

•A man around 40 years old was shot dead in Merrylands West on September 2.
•Marco Tapia, a 23-year-old university student, was shot dead in Glen Alpine on September 1.
•Police suspect both victims were mistaken targets unrelated to organized crime.
•The Alameddine and Coconut Cartel crime networks are believed to be involved in escalating conflicts in Sydney.

Overview

•Marco Tapia was shot dead in Glen Alpine at approximately 03:40 on Tuesday, September 1.
•A man aged approximately 40 was shot dead at a house in Merrylands West at approximately 15:15 on Wednesday, September 2.
•New South Wales Police believe the Merrylands West victim was a business associate of a resident known to police for organized crime, leading to a possible case of mistaken identity.
•The Alameddine crime family and the Coconut Cartel are believed to be involved in conflicts causing multiple shootings across Sydney over several months.
•New South Wales Police are tracking a grey Audi sedan seen leaving the Merrylands West scene via CCTV footage.
•Previous cases of suspected mistaken identity include the abduction and murder of Chris Baxarian and the shooting of a Sydney plumber last year.
•Yasmine Catley, the New South Wales Police Minister, responded to opposition calls for stricter measures by mentioning a national gun buy-back program.
•New South Wales Police warned that organized crime violence is impacting the general public.

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Key Quotes

New South Wales Police

"It is sad that there is a possibility the perpetrator shot the wrong person."

น่าเศร้าที่มีความเป็นไปได้ว่าคนร้ายยิงผิดคน

Key Entities

Organization

New South Wales Police(ตำรวจรัฐนิวเซาท์เวลส์)ℹ️

The law enforcement agency investigating the shootings in Sydney.

Alameddineℹ️

A well-known crime family in Sydney believed to be involved in escalating conflicts.

Coconut Cartel

A contract crime network believed to be involved in escalating conflicts in Sydney.

Place

Sydney(ซิดนีย์)ℹ️

The city where the fatal shootings occurred.

Merrylands West(เมอร์รีแลนด์ส เวสต์)ℹ️

The neighborhood in western Sydney where a man around 40 was shot dead on September 2.

Glen Alpine(เกลน อัลไพน์)

The neighborhood in southwestern Sydney where Marco Tapia was killed.

Bondi Beach(หาดบอนได)ℹ️

The location of a mass shooting in December that led the government to push for a gun buy-back program.

Person

Marco Tapia(มาร์โก ทาเปีย)

A 23-year-old university student shot dead in his family home on September 1.

Chris Baxarian(คริส บาก์ซาเรียน)

An 85-year-old Sydney man suspected to have been abducted and murdered as a mistaken target.

Yasmine Catley(ยัสมิน แคตลีย์)

The New South Wales Police Minister.