A man shot dead in a Sydney home invasion that was initially described as a "targeted" attack now appears to be a case of mistaken identity, according to New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon.
Emergency services were called to a home in Glen Alpine, in the city's south-west, about 3:40am on Tuesday. Police said university student Marco Tapia died at the scene. The 20-year-old was only known to police for a traffic offence. Multiple offenders fled before officers arrived, and family members who were home at the time have been assisting police.
At a media conference on Tuesday, Campbelltown City Police Area Command Acting Superintendent Gretchen Atkins said police were treating the incident as a targeted attack. When asked about a social media post suggesting the shooters may have targeted the wrong house, she said "everything is being considered" and did not rule out mistaken identity.
The social media post in question came from Iziah Utai, an exiled alleged co-founder of the criminal network Coconut Cartel. Little more than an hour after the shooting, Utai wrote on Instagram: "Popped the wrong person. Didn't even get the right house." Police are aware of the post and are investigating whether the shooting was a bungled hit.
Commissioner Lanyon said the shooting was "completely unacceptable" and that it now appeared to be a case of mistaken identity. "The fact that what appears to be an innocent life was taken yesterday is something that no community should accept and no community should live in fear of violence," he said.
He also sought to reassure the public, pointing to ongoing efforts against organised crime. "For the past 12 months, we have arrested over 700 people connected with organised crime for committing offences exactly like we saw yesterday," Lanyon said. "I don't want any innocent member of the community to be impacted by organised crime."
Police Minister Yasmin Catley described the shooting as "absolutely shocking", while NSW Premier Chris Minns said the circumstances were "shocking" and would "reverberate for a long time".
The incident follows a series of underworld attacks in Sydney, some of which have involved mistaken targets. In February, 85-year-old grandfather Chris Baghsarian was allegedly kidnapped and murdered by people who had the wrong target; 11 people have been charged. In May 2025, innocent Condell Park plumber John Versace was executed in his driveway in what police believe was a case of mistaken identity.
The shooting also comes amid an alleged feud between the Alameddine network and the Coconut Cartel. On Saturday, Iziah Utai posted a video dancing with a gun in the aftermath of a non-fatal shooting of Emad Alameddine in South Granville. Emad Alameddine is a relative of alleged crime figure Bilal Alameddine. The two networks have allegedly been embroiled in a dispute that has spilled into shootings across Sydney in recent months.
Investigations are ongoing, with assistance from the State Crime Command's Homicide Squad.