Teen drone operator charged with murder arrested while allegedly conducting surveillance

An 18-year-old drone operator charged over his alleged involvement in a fatal shooting in western Sydney earlier this month was allegedly conducting another criminal surveillance operation when he was arrested on Friday.

An emerging Cronulla Sharks player, 19-year-old Ratu Viliame Koroitamana, was driving a car in which the alleged drone operator was arrested on Friday. He was arrested but has not been charged in relation to the Macdonald murder.

Joshua Macdonald was shot at a Merrylands West home on the afternoon of September 2, in a case police believe was mistaken identity. The 40-year-old died at the scene.

Macdonald was not known to police and had no links to organised crime.

About 5.30am on Friday, Raptor Squad detectives arrested the 18-year-old and Koroitamana in West Hoxton and took them to Liverpool police station. Police allege the younger man is a drone operator.

A member of the public had reported unusual drone activity over West Hoxton, near Liverpool, and police arrested the drone operator and the 19-year-old driver of a vehicle shortly afterwards.

“That behaviour is obviously of great concern to us,” said Homicide Squad Commander Detective Superintendent Joe Doueihi.

“More than likely he was involved in criminality and conducting surveillance on someone for some purpose. I’m glad today we have foiled it.”

Police will allege the 18-year-old flew the surveillance drone – an off-the-shelf commercial model that sells for around $4000 – from about two streets away from Bruce Street in Merrylands West, where Macdonald was fatally shot.

They will allege he relayed information back to the shooters.

“A drone was seized and forensically examined by detectives, who allegedly uncovered evidence to suggest involvement in the fatal shooting in Merrylands,” NSW Police said in a statement on Saturday morning.

The 18-year-old man has been charged with murder and participating in a criminal group to contribute to criminal activity. He was refused police bail and is due to face court on Saturday.

Police say organised crime networks are increasingly using drones to surveil potential targets leading up to and during assassinations.

In April, Sydney rapper Ay Huncho, whose legal name is Ali Younes, escaped a foiled alleged murder plot in which would-be attackers surveilled him with a drone at a rugby league match.

Drone footage emerged after the July murder of Carlingford man Jack Cheung, 35, outside his home.

The 19-year-old man has been charged with participating in a criminal group to contribute to criminal activity and driving a motor vehicle while his licence was suspended. He was refused police bail and faced Liverpool Local Court on Friday, where he was granted conditional bail and will return to court on September 24.