Alleged members of an African street gang face court after Operation Meld arrests

Alleged members of an African street gang were conspiring to kill a rival gang member, however, their intended target was not the innocent 18-year-old boy they allegedly shot in the leg, a court has heard.

Members of an alleged African street gang who are accused of shooting an innocent teenager they thought was a member of a rival gang downloaded a plan of the target house, a chilling series of messages has revealed.

Three alleged gang members all appeared in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Friday in front of Magistrate Natalie Browne and each made no application for bail since being charged with conspiracy to murder.

During bail applications for two 17-year-olds from the northern suburbs, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, the Adelaide Youth Court heard chat logs discovered in 25 confiscated phones uncover the alleged kill plot secluded in online group chats.

The phones were confiscated from three men and three youths allegedly involved in the plot and contained multiple group chats – where all participants allegedly used fake names – with hundreds of messages outlining the plot.

One of the accused being arrested by police. Picture: 7NEWS

The court heard the alleged plotters accessed house plans for the home of the intended victim and coordinated for get away cars to be allegedly stolen, and materials to torch evidence linked to the plot had been prepared.

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

A police prosecutor told the court they were seeking an 11-month adjournment to await the return of DNA, e-crime and digital evidence report, however Casey Isaacs for one of the alleged gang members, said that was a “long time” for the defendant’s to be in custody.

The group were arrested on Thursday as part of Operation Meld after gunshots were allegedly fired into a home on Eaton Dr in Andrews Farm in the early hours of December 16 last year.

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

Following an investigation, Acting Assistant Commissioner John De Candia revealed the accused were all linked to the 051 street gang and the intended target was from the KBS street gang.

Police said the 18-year-old victim, who was not the intended target, was shot through a closed bedroom roller shutter window and was struck with one bullet to the leg.

He has made a full recovery since the attack.

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

Operation Meld investigators believe the attack was extensively planned and searched a number of addresses where they allegedly located a firearm and a quantity of suspected MDMA tablets.

During the bail applications, Magistrate Michael Jandy noted that police prosecutions submissions did not appear on the facts of charge provided to defence counsel.

The 17-year-old from Munno Para, and the youth from Smithfield Plains were charged with two counts of endangering life, one count of conspire to murder and one count of attempted murder.

Mr Jandy said the only form of bail he would consider for the two teens would be home detention, and ordered reports into their suitability.

The third 17-year-old, charged only with endanger life, did not make an application for bail.

All three boys were remanded in custody until their next court date in February.

Ms Browne remanded the three men in custody and adjourned the matter to July.

Originally published as Alleged members of an African street gang face court after Operation Meld arrests