A 28-year-old woman has been charged after police alleged she acted as a lookout for a gunman involved in the fatal shooting of a Sydney electrician, who investigators believe may have been killed in a case of mistaken gangland identity.
Joshua MacDonald, 40, was walking towards a property on Bruce Street in Merrylands West at about 3.15pm on September 2 when he was shot dead.
Police arrested 18-year-old Jimmy Schulz at West Hoxton at approximately 5.30am on September 11.
Schulz was charged with murder and participating in a criminal group contributing to criminal activity. The matter remains before the courts.
NSW Police said on Saturday that a woman had also been arrested in connection with Mr MacDonald’s death.
“Following further extensive inquiries, about 2.30pm [on Friday] Strike Force detectives executed a search warrant at a unit in Wollongong,” police said in a statement.
The woman was taken to Wollongong Police Station, where she was charged with being an accessory after the fact to murder, participating in a criminal group contributing to criminal activity and failing to comply with a direction to provide access to digital evidence.
“Detectives will allege in court the woman conducted surveillance for the gunman, assisting with their escape,” police said.
Electrician Joshua MacDonald, 40, was fatally shot while walking towards a home on Bruce Street in Merrylands West at about 3.15pm on September 2.
NSW Police said on Saturday that a 28-year-old woman had been arrested over Mr MacDonald’s death and charged as an accessory after the fact to murder.
Mr MacDonald’s grieving aunt and uncle, Darlene and Trevor Norton, said their nephew died after stepping in front of his best friend Nick Brown and his two young daughters.
The woman was refused bail and appeared before the Bail Division Court on Saturday. Investigations by Strike Force Haleno are continuing.
Following Schulz’s arrest, detectives allegedly seized a drone that is now undergoing forensic examination. Police say their inquiries uncovered evidence linking the device to the shooting.
Police also released video showing Schulz arriving at Liverpool Police Station dressed in a black tracksuit and without shoes.
Mr MacDonald was not known to have any ties to organised crime and police believe he was not the intended victim.
He was reportedly visiting a property whose occupants are allegedly “well known to police for organised crime activity”.
Mr MacDonald’s aunt and uncle, Darlene and Trevor Norton, told Seven News that their nephew was killed after placing himself between his best friend Nick Brown and the gunfire, protecting Mr Brown’s two young daughters.
“That’s Joshua all over. If he’d known those kids were in danger, [or if] anyone was in danger, he’d put himself in front [of them],” Ms Norton said.
She also shared a message from Mr Brown, who paid tribute to his best friend, writing: “I am forever grateful for this beautiful soul. He is my children’s and my own guardian angel.”
Police arrested 18-year-old Jimmy Schulz in West Hoxton at about 5.30am on September 11.
When Ms Norton first heard the news of her nephew’s shooting, she said she refused to believe it was Mr MacDonald.
‘I thought it was another Joshua. And then I picked up my phone and just missed calls for the night,’ she said.
Ms Norton said her nephew was hardworking and kind-hearted, and recalled their final text exchange on his birthday, just days before the shooting.
‘Happy birthday, Josh. Hope you have a wonderful day. Love you. See you on the 13th of September. Kiss, kiss, kiss,’ she wrote.
His reply read: ‘Thank you. Can’t wait.’
A day before Mr MacDonald was killed, multiple offenders entered a two-storey home in Glen Alpine, near Campbelltown in south-west Sydney, at about 3.40am.
They fatally shot Marco Tapia, 23, in his bedroom while his family were home. He was not known to police and only had a traffic offence on his record.
Two boys, aged 14 and 16, were arrested on Wednesday and charged with murder and participating in a criminal group.
A day before Mr MacDonald was killed, several offenders fatally shot Marco Tapia in his bedroom while his family were home
The boys were also charged with contributing to criminal activity, possessing an unauthorised prohibited firearm, and two counts of driving a conveyance taken without the consent of the owner.
The 14-year-old faces an additional charge of damaging property by fire/explosion.
Detectives will allege in court that the teens staged vehicles and provided a weapon for the gunman.
The teens were refused bail to appear at a children’s court on Thursday. A third male remains on the run.
One line of inquiry for detectives is whether the suspected attacks were organised from overseas and carried out by young local offenders.
– READ MORE: ‘I’m on the hit list in Sydney’s underworld war. This is what I do to stay alive – but getting shot dead is only a matter of time’: Gangland target’s life as a hunted man
