The grieving family of a student shot dead by home intruders in what police believe may have been a case of mistaken identity has broken down while describing their nightmare.
Marco Tapia, 23, was in bed when three masked men broke into his parents’ home on Mount Sugarloaf Drive in Glen Alpine, south-west Sydney, and shot him in the neck and arm at 3.40am on September 1, in a suspected gang execution gone wrong.
Police said Mr Tapia had no criminal associations and was only known to them for a minor traffic offence. Officers are investigating whether the shooting was a case of mistaken identity.
His mother, Claudia Tapia, father Sergio and sister Cassie were asleep at home at the time, and the family said they will never forget waking to the confronting scene.
‘It was a nightmare waking up to that,’ Mrs Tapia told Channel Nine’s A Current Affair on Monday evening.
‘It all happened so fast. I remember him taking the last breath.’
Mr Tapia added: ‘Images don’t leave our mind, you know, the smell of gunpowder.
‘It’s a horrific nightmare that just doesn’t stop. Our life has changed forever.’
Marco Tapia (right) told his girlfriend (left) that he loved her in a final phone call hours before he was shot dead at his family home on September 1
Parents Sergio and Claudia Tapia fought back tears as they spoke publicly about the ordeal
Marco, his parents, and sister were all asleep when three masked home invaders stormed into their Glen Alpine home
The Tapia family said it was ‘ridiculously stupid’ that Marco was taken from them in such a brazen way, but Sergio said they would not seek vengeance.
‘You never prepare for these circumstances… You never prepare to lose your son,’ Mrs Tapia added.
‘You always have dreams for your children, that they’re going to have family and children. You do not prepare for having to bury your son so young.’
Mr Tapia’s sister Cassie told the program she was ‘shattered’ that he won’t be by her side when she gets married in November, adding the invitations had been scheduled to be sent out on the day Marco was killed.
‘He got to open his invitation to come to the wedding, but it’s going to be something that he’s not going to be attending,’ Cassie said.
‘He’s my best friend and the fact he’s not going to be there as one of the groomsmen is heartbreaking.
‘I call him my big little brother because even though he’s younger than me, and he’ll always be my little baby brother, he was much taller than me, and he was just such a warm person.’
Cassie added that her brother would have wanted the wedding to go ahead.
Marco Tapia (left) shared a close bond with his parents and sister Cassie (centre right)
The biomedical engineering student was shot dead in a suspected case of mistaken identity, according to police
Mr Tapia’s attackers remain on the run a fortnight after the shooting
Mr Tapia had recently celebrated his 23rd birthday and was pursuing plans for his future when he was killed.
After completing a medical and health science degree, he continued his university studies with hopes of becoming a biomedical engineer.
In his spare time, he volunteered with engineering outreach programs and was involved with his local Hillsong church as a youth leader.
Mr Tapia was also saving up to buy an engagement ring for his long-term girlfriend Joannette Apolinares.
His final words to her on the night of his death were that he loved her.
‘He always told me to be positive when I wasn’t, because he was such a positive person,’ Ms Apolinares told A Current Affair.
‘I feel so bad because I wish I was able to talk to him more.’
Police had previously revealed that Mr Tapia had no criminal history, with his only minor brush with the law a speeding fine.
Mr Tapia’s attackers fled the scene and remain on the run.
His parents, who said their religious beliefs are giving them strength, have not ruled out forgiving the alleged attackers one day.
‘Right now, we are striving for peace and forgiveness will come,’ Sergio said.
‘I would not want anyone to go through what we’re going through.’
