A teenager has been charged with murder in Sydney after investigators allegedly uncovered evidence that a drone was used to assist a gang-related shooting that killed an innocent man in a case of suspected mistaken identity.

New South Wales police arrested two young men following an investigation into the fatal shooting of 40-year-old Joshua Macdonald at a home in Merrylands West earlier this month. Investigators believe Macdonald may have been mistakenly targeted and had no known connection to organised crime.

Police allege that an 18-year-old man operated a drone during the incident. The device was reportedly seized by detectives and subjected to forensic examination as investigators attempted to establish how it was used and who may have controlled it during the suspected attack.

The teenager has been charged with murder as well as participating in a criminal group. A second man, aged 19, has also been charged in connection with the investigation.

According to investigators, the alleged shooting appears to be linked to a wider pattern of organised criminal activity in which young people may be recruited to carry out specific tasks for criminal groups.

The use of a drone has added another dimension to the investigation. Detectives are examining whether the aircraft was used to locate the intended target, provide information to people involved in the shooting or assist with surveillance before the attack.

Macdonald’s death has raised concerns because investigators believe he may have been killed despite having no apparent involvement with the criminal conflict surrounding the suspected operation.

The case also follows another fatal shooting in New South Wales in which a young man was reportedly killed in another suspected mistaken-identity attack. Investigators are examining whether the incidents could reflect a broader pattern of organised violence.

Police are continuing to investigate who ordered the alleged attack, who supplied the equipment and whether additional people were involved. Detectives are also examining communications and other evidence that could help reveal the chain of events leading to the killing.

The investigation highlights the increasingly complex methods being examined by Australian authorities as organised crime groups allegedly use younger participants and technology to conduct surveillance and support violent operations.

The accused teenager will face court as the legal process continues. The allegations against him have not been proven in court.

Police are expected to continue pursuing possible links to the wider criminal network while investigators work to determine the full circumstances behind Macdonald’s death.