Source : Perth Now news
The family of innocent Sydney shooting victim Marco Tapia have opened up on their heartache following the “nightmare” scenes that unfolded that fateful morning.
The 23-year-old student was slain with a gunshot wound in his bed, following a terrifying home invasion two weeks ago.
In a televised interview on A Current Affair on Monday evening, his parents described the horror their family faced following the harrowing incident.
“It was a nightmare waking up to that,” his mother, Claudia Tapia said. “It all happened so fast, it went so quickly.”
“It was a horrific way that he passed,” his father Sergio Tapia added.
“The images do not leave our mind … the smell of gunpowder.”
Mr Tapia added that it was “ridiculously stupid” that his son was taken away in such a callous way.
But he said the family held no anger and would not seek vengeance,
His older sister Cassie Tapia said the loss of her little brother is “heartbreaking”, with him due to have served as a groomsman at her upcoming wedding.
“We were always proud of him and always loved him, he knows how much we loved him,” his father added.
“He was always at peace with everyone and loved everyone.
“We have had great support from family, friends, the church has been terrific.”
“You never prepare for these circumstances,” his mother said. “You never prepare to lose your son.
“You always have dreams for your children, that they’re going to have family and children. You do not prepare for having to bury your son so young.”
The shocking incident happened on Tuesday, September 1, at Mr Tapia’s home in Glen Alpine, near Campbelltown, southwest Sydney.
It is believed his death was a tragic case of mistaken identity, with its roots in Sydney’s shocking gangland wars,
Police said at the time that Mr Tapia was not known to authorities and had no connection whatsoever to any of the city’s notorious gangs.
Following the incident, Iziah Utai, the alleged leader of the Coconut Cartel gang, made reference to the incident describing him as an “innocent victim”.
Hours after the shooting, he made a post on Instagram seemingly referencing the tragedy.
“Popped the wrong person,” it wrote.
“Didn’t even get the right house.”
His tragic death was one of two suspected mistaken identity shootings on consecutive days in the Sydney area, with Joshua McDonald shot in the doorway of his home in Merryland’s West.
Speaking following the incidents, NSW opposition leader Kellie Sloane said that gangland violence was out of control.
“Innocent people have been in the firing line way too often,” she said.
