Marco Tapia: Tributes pour in for ‘deeply loved’ Sydney student shot dead in bed in mistaken identity attack
Tributes have flooded in for an innocent Sydney student after he was shot dead in one of two mistaken identity attacks that have rocked the state.
Tributes are pouring on for the first of two men killed in separate, suspected mistaken identity shootings in Sydney this week.
Marco Tapia, 23, was shot dead during a home invasion in the early hours of Tuesday.
The NSW Police Commissioner and underworld figure Iziah Utai have separately said Mr Tapia was killed in a case of likely mistaken identity.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.Donations to support Mr Tapia’s family have surpassed $31,000 in a little over 24 hours, as of Friday.
“Marco was deeply loved by so many within the community and had a bright future ahead of him,” friend Jessica Stilloni said on the fundraiser.
“He was a dedicated biomedical engineering student, a youth outreach officer and a passionate martial artist.
“He was a strong and dedicated Christian man whose faith was shown through every action and act of kindness to all those who knew and loved him. He was strong in his faith until the very end.”
Mr Tapia was shot dead in his bed at the family home in Glen Alpine about 3.40am Tuesday.
His family were also home when multiple attackers broke in. NSW Police confirmed soon after Mr Tapia had no criminal record beyond a traffic offence.
NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said the shooting appeared to be a case of mistaken identity.
Gangland figure Iziah Utai said online the attackers “popped the wrong person” and “didn’t even get the right house”.
The fundraiser says Mr Tapia “will be missed dearly by his parents, sister, partner, family, friends and everyone who had the pleasure and privilege of knowing and loving him”.
Only 36 hours later, another Sydney man was shot dead in what police again say was mistaken identity.
Joshua MacDonald, 40, was shot and killed by gunmen in a car as he stood at the doorway of a home in Merrylands West.
It has been reported Mr MacDonald was visiting the home of a business associate, a property which is owned – but not lived in – by a man with links to the Alameddine crime family.
Police said Mr MacDonald had no criminal connections.
“Josh was always a loving and caring boy that would go out of his way to help others. He loved his family dearly as we did him,” his aunt told the ABC.
“He was a very beautiful man with his whole life ahead of him and that has been taken away. He was so loved and I am very proud of what he achieved in his very short life.”
No arrests have been made in either case.
