NRL hopeful Ratu Viliame Koroitamana, 19, is stood down as he’s charged over alleged link to mistaken gangland shooting of an innocent tradie – as ‘drone operator’, 18, is arrested

An NRL hopeful was stood down from a match 24 hours before a final after he and a teenage drone operator were charged in relation to the alleged murder of a man in Sydney’s west.

Electrician Joshua MacDonald, 40, was walking to a home on Bruce Street in Merrylands West about 3.15pm on September 2 when he was shot dead.

In a statement, NSW Police said an 18-year-old was arrested in West Hoxton on Friday at 5.30am. He was charged with murder and participating in a criminal group contributing to criminal activity.

‘A drone was seized and forensically examined by detectives, who allegedly uncovered evidence to suggest involvement in the fatal shooting,’ it said.

Police shared video of the man, Jimmy Schulz, arriving at Liverpool Police Station in black tracksuits while barefoot. He will appear in a bail court on Saturday. 

Rugby league player Ratu Viliame Koroitamana, 19, was charged with participating in a criminal group in a way that contributed to criminal activity. He has not been charged with murder.

He faced Liverpool Local Court on Friday and was granted bail.

Koroitamana was due to play for the Cronulla Sharks Jersey Flegg in Saturday’s final against the Canterbury Bulldogs but was stood down when the team learned of the charges. The Jersey Flegg Cup is an elite under-21s men’s rugby league competition

‘The Sharks were made aware of the matter being reported involving a player from our academy and pathways program, relating to his appearance before a magistrate at the Liverpool Local Court yesterday afternoon,’ the Sharks said in a statement.

‘The club reported the matter to NRL Integrity.

‘We cannot and will not make further public comment with this matter before the courts.’

Mr MacDonald had no known links to organised crime. 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, called the incident ‘cold-blooded murder’.

They 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.

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.’

The Nortons have questioned why authorities, including NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley, did not do more to prevent the tragedy, saying their nephew should still be alive.

‘Their car was sitting there for 90 minutes. If they (police) already knew that these people next door were being targeted, (then) they had a target on their shoulders,’ Ms Norton told 7News.

‘Why weren’t they patrolling those streets?’

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, 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. No arrests have been made for the killing. 

One line of inquiry for detectives is whether the suspected botched attacks were organised from overseas and carried out by young, local offenders.

Asked whether NSW Police were doing enough, Ms Norton said: ‘No, they could be doing so much more. So much more.

‘If it had happened to one of her (Catley’s) family, if it’s happening to any of their family members, I’m sure they’d change their mind.

‘But of course, it’s not happening to any of theirs. It’s all us poor families.’

Despite the back-to-back killings, senior NSW Government ministers insisted the situation remains ‘under control’.

‘NSW Police are on top of this,’ Acting Premier Prue Car told reporters on Thursday.

Catley also insisted the police and NSW Government were managing the situation.

‘I do not accept this is out of control… we will not surrender our streets to organised crime gangs,’ she said this week, noting there is a new criminal model in Sydney.

‘Let’s be honest here… this is very challenging. Police are doing everything they can.’

– READ MORE: ‘I’m on the hit list in Sydney’s underworld war. This is what I do to stay alive – but getting shot dead is only a matter of time’ 

– READ MORE: ‘Innocent’ student is shot dead in suspected gang execution gone wrong