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.

Alleged members of an 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 tendered in court has revealed.

Three alleged gang members appeared in Adelaide Magistrates Court on Friday, charged with conspiracy to murder, making no application for bail since being charged with conspiracy to murder.

A further three youths appeared before the Adelaide Youth Court, with two applying for bail. During bail applications for two 17-year-olds from the northern suburbs, the court heard chat logs discovered in 25 confiscated phones revealed the alleged plot.

The 17-year-old from Munno Para and the 17-year-old from Smithfield Plains were charged with two counts of endangering life,one count of conspire to murder and one count of attempted murder. A third 17-year-old, charged only with endanger life, did not make an application for bail.

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

The court was told the alleged plotters accessed plans of the home of the intended victim and arranged for getaway cars.

Prosecutors alleged that during the shooting – which was just a few houses down from their 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.

A police prosecutor told the court they were seeking an 11-month adjournment to await the return of a 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 defendants to be in custody. The group was arrested on Thursday as part of Operation Meld after gunshots were fired into a home on Eaton Drive in Andrews Farm in the early hours of December 16.

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

Following an investigation, Acting Assistant Commissioner John De Candia alleged 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 was shot through a bedroom roller shutter window and was struck with one bullet to the leg. He has made a full recovery since the incident.

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

Magistrate Michael 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 with endanger life, did not make a bail application. All three boys were remanded in custody until their next court date in February.

In the Adelaide Magistrates Court, Magistrate Natalie Browne remanded the three men in custody and adjourned the matter toJuly.

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