‘Horrific’: Two teens charged over murder of innocent student Marco Tapia in Sydney

One of two teenage boys charged with the murder of an innocent university student allegedly set himself on fire trying to dispose of a “kill car” used in the shooting.

The 14-year-old boy was arrested, along with a 16-year-old boy, after detectives investigating the murder of biomedical engineering student Marco Tapia raided two properties in Fairfield in Sydney’s west on Wednesday.

Mr Tapia, 23, was shot dead after three men stormed his family home in Glen Alpine, in Sydney’s south west on September 1.

Homicide Squad commander Detective Superintendent Joe Doueihi said on Thursday the teens were allegedly involved in the “preparation, planning and aftermath” of Mr Tapia’s killing.

Superintendent Doueihi said the orchestrators of the murder had been “scraping at the bottom of the barrel” in their recruitment for what was a “very clumsy” killing.

“We don’t know exactly how they were recruited, but this incident has all the hallmarks of an organised crime murder,” Superintendent Doueihi said.

“Generally there are facilitators who are responsible for locating participants in these crimes, whatever those roles may be … on occasions they will target vulnerable young people, street kids, street gangs,” he said.

“Once they have located them, they will recruit them into an encrypted chat where they will talk about what is actually required.”

He said police would allege the two charged teens “left a trail of evidence behind”.

“It wasn’t very difficult for us to locate them,” he said.

Det Supt Doueihi said the 14-year old defendant had allegedly burnt himself in the process of trying to “burn the kill car” and ended up in hospital.

“We are very shocked … unfortunately these young men that are being targeted are naive. They’re not aware of the consequences of their [alleged] actions, they’re easily lured by the thrill and financial incentive,” he said.

“Their parents were devastated. They had no idea what was going on.”

Police have not yet caught the three men who entered the home and shot Mr Tapia, but Superintendent Doueihi said the investigation was “looking quite good”.

Mr Tapia had no known gang affiliations, and was only known by authorities due to traffic offences.

Two homes in Fairfield were raided by detectives from Strike Force Gareno on Wednesday morning, with two boys aged 14 and 16 arrested and taken to Cabramatta Police Station for questioning.

Both teens have been charged with murder, participating in a criminal group, possessing an unauthorised firearm and two counts each of driving a stolen vehicle.

The 14-year-old has also been charged with damaging a property with fire/explosion.

Detectives will be arguing the teenagers were responsible for staging vehicles and providing a firearm for the gunman.

Speaking to A Current Affair, Mr Tapia’s father Sergio said he was haunted by the “smell of gunpowder”.

“It was a horrific way that he passed. The images do not leave our mind,” Mr Tapia said.

“We were always proud of him and always loved him, he knows how much we loved him. He was always at peace with everyone and loved everyone.”

Mr Tapia’s mother Claudia said no family should have to endure such pain.

“You always have dreams for your children, that they’re going to have a family and children. You do not prepare for having to bury your son so young,” she said.

Mr Tapia’s sister Cassie said the loss of her little brother, who was due to serve as her groomsman at her upcoming wedding, was “heartbreaking”.