Western Sydney residents fearful and angry after mistaken identity shootings linked to organised crime

Residents caught in the crossfire of Western Sydney's gang violence say they are fearful and angry after a series of mistaken identity shootings linked to organised crime.

Eight innocent people have reportedly died in cases of mistaken identity since 2021, with two in as many days last month.

Young people are increasingly being hired by offshore criminals to commit what NSW Police has called "disorganised" crime, in an evolution of the city's underworld activity.

Two 16-year-old boys and a 14-year-old boy have been charged with the alleged mistaken-identity murder of innocent university student Marco Tapia at a Glen Alpine home last month.

Following charges laid on Wednesday, Mr Tapia's mother, Claudia Tapia, released a statement which said the committed Christian and volunteer "lived a life of faith, service, generosity and purpose".

Within 48 hours of the Glen Alpine incident, innocent tradie Joshua Macdonald was shot dead in a doorway of a Merrylands West property near a school about 3:15pm.

The ABC has spoken to people concerned about the prevalence of gun and organised crime in Western Sydney, who requested their names be changed, fearing the consequences for their safety and businesses for speaking publicly.

'Very scary'

Beauty therapist Jessica has lived in the Merrylands area her whole life.

Recently, she had considered leaving because of criminal activity.

"It has put a lot of fear into us and it's not just about being involved in crime anymore.

"It could be mistaken identity or wrong place, wrong time. It's even happening in daylight now."

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Jessica said hearing about her clients' brushes with recent gun-related incidents and underworld shootings had "really hit home".

She said an 11-year-old boy who died after being shot in the face at Norwest last month, in a home with men linked to organised crime present, went to a client's daughter's school.

Circumstances of the shooting remain under investigation.

She said she had clients who live near where Mr Macdonald was killed in Merrylands West.

"Their roads were closed off. Clients couldn't get through to pick up their kids," she said.

"It's not safe. It's very scary."

Jessica said clients had moved for "the safety of their kids".

"I was having this conversation with my dad. I'm like, 'We need to all just pick up and go', but where are we going to go?" she said.

Cumberland City Council Mayor Ola Hamed said it was "terrifying" that the shootings were encroaching on public spaces.

She said council was working with police and stakeholders to minimise gang violence.

"We are concerned that gang-related crime is on the increase, but I can't imagine people are taking drastic measures because they are just so concerned."

'Really quite angry'

Glen Alpine business owner Jon lives near where Mr Tapia died.

Detective Superintendent Joe Doueihi said a group of three males charged yesterday with the alleged murder intended to target someone who lived on the same street as Mr Tapia.

"We will allege they were contracted as hired guns by an organised crime group to attend New South Wales [from Victoria] and commit these violent acts, including the murder of Mr Tapia," Superintendent Doueihi said.

Jon said the incident was "unnerving".

"Mistaken identity, it just leaves you wondering if there's a drug dealer or someone with the same name as me, that they [criminals] are going to kick my front door down," he said.

"They [friends] are really quite angry that someone comes into their neighbourhood and does that to some poor, innocent young man."

When asked if he had thought about home security measures, Jon said he was not sure what would work.

"They broke in the dead of night and took that poor lad's life," he said.

He said the solution probably lay with families, but acknowledged there may be "generations of completely lost people" who were victims themselves.

'Don't know who's who anymore'

Jessica said crime rates had become worrying, but in the last month or so, it had left her on edge and led her to change her behaviour.

"Growing up, it wasn't like that. We used to play out the front," she said.

"Now, I wouldn't feel safe for my kids to play outside, or my extended family when they come over."

She said she would rather stay inside when it was dark and when she went for a walk she would take her husband.

Fear has also begun to creep into daytime routines with her toddler, such as taking them to the park.

Jessica said she wanted more security in the area, education for young people and support.

"How are they [criminals] all here around us? You don't know who's who anymore," she said.

In mid-September, Detective Acting Chief Superintendent Matt Craft said NSW Police was identifying threats early, disrupting criminal networks and holding people accountable.

"In September alone, Taskforce Falcon has conducted over 668 proactive taskings, which can vary from simple door knocks to the foiling of live murder plots," he said.

"This year alone, [there have been] over 100 acts of violence or murders that we've been able to interdict, talk to individuals, and prevent them from occurring.