A woman has been charged over the fatal shooting of Sydney tradie Joshua MacDonald, with police alleging she acted as a lookout for the gunman in what investigators suspect was a mistaken gangland hit.
Mr MacDonald, a 40-year-old electrician, was walking towards a home 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 in West Hoxton at 5.30am on September 11.
He 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 morning that a 28-year-old 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 and charged with accessory after the fact to murder, participating in a criminal group contributing to criminal activity, and failing to comply with a digital evidence access order direction.
“Detectives will allege in court the woman conducted surveillance for the gunman, assisting with their escape,” the statement said.
Electrician Joshua MacDonald, 40, was walking to a home on Bruce Street in Merrylands West at about 3.15pm on September 2 when he was shot dead.
NSW Police said on Saturday that a 28-year-old woman had been arrested over his death and charged with accessory after the fact to murder.
His grieving aunt and uncle, Darlene (pictured) and Trevor Norton, said their nephew died after leaping in front of his best friend Nick Brown and his two young daughters
The woman was refused bail to appear before Bail Division Court on Saturday. Investigations under Strike Force Haleno are ongoing.
After Schulz was arrested, police allegedly seized a drone that is being forensically examined after detectives uncovered evidence they allege links it to the fatal shooting.
Police shared video of Schulz arriving at Liverpool Police Station wearing a black tracksuit and no shoes.
Mr MacDonald had no known links to organised crime and was not the intended target.
It is understood he was visiting a house where the occupants are allegedly ‘well known to police for organised crime activity’.
His grieving aunt and uncle, Darlene and Trevor Norton, told Seven News that their nephew died after leaping in front of his best friend Nick Brown and his 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.
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She shared a text message from Mr Brown praising his best friend and saying: ‘I am forever grateful for this beautiful soul. He is my children’s and my own guardian angel.’
An 18-year-old, Jimmy Schulz, was arrested in West Hoxton on September 11 at 5.30am
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.
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