Bombshell mistaken identity murder twist as 16-year-old boy is charged over killing of Sydney medical student

A 16-year-old boy and two men have been charged with murder after an innocent student was allegedly shot dead in his family’s home.

Marco Tapia, 23, was in bed when three masked males allegedly broke into his parents’ home in Glen Alpine, in south-west Sydney, on September 1 and shot him in what police believe was a gang-related shooting that went wrong.

Detectives have since confirmed that the wrong house was targeted.

Two boys, aged 14 and 16, have already been charged and remain before the courts for allegedly staging vehicles and providing the weapon.

However, on Tuesday morning, another 16-year-old boy and two men, aged 22 and 23, were arrested in the NSW town of Junee.

They were taken to Wagga Wagga Police Station, where they were charged with murder, two counts of special aggravated break and enter and commit serious indictable offence while armed with a weapon, and possessing an unauthorised prohibited firearm.

‘Detectives will allege in court the three males – one allegedly armed with a pistol – entered the home and confronted Mr Tapia, before he was fatally shot,’ a NSW Police spokesperson said.

All three were refused police bail.

The two men will face a bail court on Wednesday, while the 16-year-old will appear in a children’s court.

NSW Police’s Homicide Squad Commander, Detective Superintendent Joe Doueihi, is expected to provide more details on the latest charges on Wednesday morning.

The breakthrough comes weeks after Mr Tapia’s grieving family broke their silence about their ‘nightmare’ ordeal.

His mother, Claudia, father, Sergio, and sister, Cassie, were all at home at the time but were not injured.

‘It was a nightmare waking up to that,’ Mrs Tapia told Channel Nine’s A Current Affair.

‘It all happened so fast. I remember him taking the last breath.’

Her husband added: ‘It’s a horrific nightmare that just doesn’t stop. Our life has changed forever.

‘You do not prepare for having to bury your son so young.’

Sister Cassie, who is getting married in November, revealed that the invitations were scheduled to be sent out on the day Marco was killed.

‘He got to open his invitation to come to the wedding, but it’s going to be something that he’s not going to be attending,’ Cassie said.

‘He’s my best friend and the fact he’s not going to be there as one of the groomsmen is heartbreaking.’

It was one of three fatal shootings across Sydney within five days.

The day after Mr Tapia’s death, Joshua MacDonald, 40, was gunned down in broad daylight in the driveway of a Merrylands West home in another suspected case of mistaken identity.

The electrical contractor had been visiting the house, where the owners were reportedly ‘well known to police for organised crime activity’.

Police have confirmed that Mr MacDonald had no links to organised crime.

Emad Alameddine, 28, was also shot dead at his Guildford home on August 28.