Northern suburbs teens charged over Andrews Farm ‘gang’ shooting seek bail

A young alleged street gang member accused of a plot to murder a rival was arrested with a phone that had a group chat called ‘Hit Squad’, a court has heard.

A young alleged African street gang member accused over a plot to kill a rival was arrested with a phone that had a group chat called ‘Hit Squad’, a court has heard, as he and another teen seek bail.

The two 17-year-olds, who cannot be identified, appeared in the Adelaide Youth Court on Monday each charged with two counts of endangering life, one count of conspire to murder and one count of attempted murder. Neither have entered any pleas.

Three youths and three men are charged over the sinister alleged murder plot to take out a rival gang member – but instead an innocent teenager was injured.

Magistrate Michael Jandy granted the pair home detention bail, which was disputed by prosecution who told the court they remained opposed to all forms of bail and were seeking a Supreme Court review. By law, they now have 72 hours to officially file the review.

One of the teens being taken into custody by police. Picture: 7NEWS

“We can advise on the day of the shooting, when the party was arrested after being found in a car near where the shooting occurred, his phone was seized,” they said.

One of the firearms seized during the investigation. Picture: SA Police

“The signal handle is present in the chats discussing the plans of the attempted murder, including the group chat ‘Hit Squad’ – this being a group chat where there were specific plans discussed prior to the shooting including discussions about burning the car, having a safe car (and) making sure ‘confirmed dead’.

“As more phones have been examined, police have found further conversations immediately following the shooting confirming the wrong target was hit. This is particularly concerning given the intended victim, and one of the firearms in the shooting, remain outstanding.”

The teens first appeared in court last month after an Operation Meld investigation, which allegedly linked them to the 051 street gang.

They were arrested alongside another teen, as well as three young men from Adelaide’s northern suburbs.

Prosecutors told court during the shooting – a few houses down from their alleged intended target – the group shot into the victim’s bedroom where an 18-year-old man, who suffered a leg wound, was sleeping with his 14-year-old brother.

The scene of the shooting at an Andrews Farm property. Picture: Roy VanDerVegt

It’s alleged the group’s intended target was a member of the KBS street gang.

On Monday, prosecution further alleged CCTV footage showed one of the youths at a northern suburbs OTR filling up a jerry can with petrol and “paying in cash”.

“This jerry can is similar to that which was located in the car with the party when they were found near by the address of the shooting,” they said.

“It is consistent with the discussion with the co-accused and adults about burning the stolen car.”

Mr Jandy granted the pair home detention bail but remanded them in custody to appear in the Supreme Court later this week, pending the prosecution’s bail review submission.

Operation Meld is a special police taskforce set up to investigate Adelaide youth gangs.