02-07-2025
Teenagers charged over shootings in Merrylands and Guildford West
A 15-year-old boy has been charged with two shootings in Sydney's west, including one where 28 rounds were fired into a house, with a bullet just missing a child's head.
Detectives alleged the teenage gunman was responsible for both incidents, which targeted homes linked to organised criminal networks.
In March, at least 28 rounds were fired from a semi-automatic rifle into a house on Crossland Street in Merrylands during a suspected drive-by.
A woman and four young children — aged between six months and five years old — were inside the house at the time, with police saying one bullet missed the older child's head by approximately 20 centimetres.
No-one was injured in the shooting.
Police believed the home was wrongly targeted after a threatening note, allegedly intended for the previous occupants with organised crime links, was left at the scene.
Soon after the shooting, a stolen, burnt-out car was found at Chiswick Road in nearby South Granville.
In April, another shooting took place at a granny flat on Faulds Road in Guildford West, where police alleged 15 shots were fired from a handgun.
A 26-year-old woman inside the flat was uninjured, and police said she was targeted due to her alleged relationship with an organised crime figure.
A stolen car was later found burnt in Villawood a short time later.
Both shooting incidents were referred to Taskforce Falcon which is a police unit looking into a spate of recent underworld shootings and acts of violence.
Following investigations, both shootings were linked to a 15-year-old boy who was arrested on Wednesday morning in Condell Park in Sydney's south-west.
A second 15-year-old was later arrested at Penrith Police Station in connection with the Merrylands attack.
They both face multiple charges including stealing a car, firing a firearm at a home, and damaging property by fire.
Both have been refused bail and are set to face a children's court on Wednesday.
Commander of Taskforce Falcon, Detective Superintendent Jason Box warned young people engaged with organised criminals to come forward before it is too late.
"The outcome for you committing these serious acts of violence will be losing your freedom, your future, and potentially your life."
