Isaac Bechara, who was 18 when the boy was fatally shot inside the Moda apartment complex in Norwest on September 21, was charged with murder at Silverwater Prison on Tuesday. He has remained in custody since being charged with concealing a serious indictable offence in the aftermath of the shooting.
Police believe 10 people were in the apartment at the time of the shooting, including the boy's mother and several 18-year-old men, some of whom fled after the boy was shot. The murder weapon was removed from the scene before responders arrived and has not been found. Investigators believe the boy, who cannot be legally identified, may have been one of several people handling the illegal gun when it discharged.
The boy died three days after being rushed to The Children’s Hospital at Westmead suffering wounds to his face and neck. The boy's father, who is a convicted cocaine dealer, was among the family members who paid tribute to the boy after his life support was switched off. Other members of the boy's extended family are linked to organised crime and known to police.