New Zealand police are continuing their search for a suspect in connection with the deadly shooting of a Tongan father six months ago.
Saia Kokohu Vi, a Tongan grandfather, was located in a vehicle at the intersection of Marvon Downs Ave and Pixie Place on the morning of August 19 after a series of shots were reported in Pakuranga Heights.
Emergency services treated him, but he died at the scene.
Police later said last year the homicide investigation “remains ongoing” and “there are no further updates at this stage”.
The 59-year-old is being remembered as a kind grandfather.
Detective Inspector Shaun Vickers said police were making steady progress in their investigation.
“As part of our enquiries, we are investigating how this homicide may be linked to another incident where a firearm was discharged towards a house in Beach Haven on the morning of 23 July,” he said in a statement.
During that incident last month, residents in Beach Haven reported several gunshots fired at a house on Rambler Crescent, but nobody was injured.
“At the moment we can confirm there is a familial link between people who live at both addresses, but we are working hard to understand the motivation behind both shootings,” Vickers previously said.
He said police were working to confirm if the shootings were gang related.
“It is still very early in our investigation, and we have a lot of ground to cover as we piece this together.”
Police said last month the homicide might be linked to the shooting in Beach Haven on the North Shore in July when a home and vehicle were shot at on Rambler Crescent.
Vi’s 33-year old son was on bail at the Rambler Crescent address that was targeted, the NZ Herald reported.
Court documents seen by Stuff show that Vi’s son and daughter had lived with him at the Pakuranga Heights address where he was killed.
The pair were arrested in 2022 as part of Operation Worthington, an investigation into an organised crime group in Auckland. They are facing charges including importing drugs and money laundering
