A 15-year-old boy allegedly lured into Sydney’s criminal underworld has been charged after two homes were peppered with bullets, with police saying gunfire missed one child by just centimetres.

The teenager is one of two juveniles charged following an investigating into shootings in the city’s west this year.

A semi-automatic rifle was used to blast at least 28 shots into a home on Crossland St in Merrylands in the early hours of March 22.

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A woman and her four children aged between six months and five years were inside at the time.

“Police will allege the bullets travelled through the bedrooms and bedheads where the victims were sleeping, with one bullet narrowly missing the five-year-old by approximately 20cm,” NSW authorities said.

Police believe the home was wrongly targeted, with a threatening note left at the scene thought to have been intended for previous occupants who have alleged links to organised crime.

A burnt-out Nissan X-Trail allegedly stolen in September 2024 was linked to the the shooting after being found torched on Chiswick St in South Granville soon after the home was shot at.

‘This isn’t a game’

A 26-year-old woman at a flat on Faulds Rd in Guildford West was lucky to escape unhurt when a handgun was used to unleash 15 shots into her property just after 2am on April 16.

Police believe the property was targeted because of the occupant’s relationship with a man who has alleged links to the city’s underworld.

A stolen Hyundai Tucson was found on fire on Birmingham Ave in Villawood not long after the shooting.

NSW Police said extensive inquiries via Taskforce Falcon, which was recently launched to quell violent crime in Sydney’s metro area, identified a 15-year-old male as “the alleged gunman in both instances”.

He will appear in a Children’s Court on Wednesday charged with two counts of firing at a dwelling — organised crime activity, four counts of damaging a property by fire or explosion, two counts of participating in criminal group activity, and driving stolen car.

The teen was on bail at the time of the alleged crimes and has also been charged with breaching his conditions..

A second 15-year-old male accused of playing a role in the Merrylands shooting was also charged with firing at a home as part of organised criminal activity, among other alleged crimes.

He will also appear in court on Wednesday.

“This isn’t a game. Your actions are putting the lives of others at risk,” Taskforce Falcon Commander Jason Box said in a warning to young people considering joining Sydney’s warring gangs.

“The outcome for you committing these serious acts of violence will be losing your freedom, your future and potentially your life.

“If you are involved with the organised criminal networks, come forward now before it is too late for you to do so.”

Anyone with information should contact Crime Stoppers.