Pakuranga shooting: Second person charged 18 months after Auckland courier driver killed

Counties Manukau detective inspector Shaun Vickers today said a 35-year-old Waiuku man has now been charged with his murder.

Police at the scene of the fatal shooting incident on Marvon Downs Avenue in Pakuranga, August 2024. Photo / Jason Oxenham

“This is the second man to appear in court over Mr Vi’s death and we cannot rule out further arrests being made in this investigation.”

The man is due to appear in the Manukau District Court today.

In September last year, 13 months after the shooting, a 23-year-old male was arrested and charged with being party to Vi’s murder.

Saia Kokohu Vi, known as Tuipulotu Kokohu Vi, was shot dead inside his van on Marvon Downs Ave, August 2024.

There are details in the case that the media are prevented from publishing because of court suppression orders.

Police at the time executed a search warrant at an address on Franklyne Road, Ōtara, where the man was taken into custody.

At the time of the shooting, nearby residents reported hearing sounds of gunshots.

A woman who raced to the aid of the courier driver said he loved his grandkids and she had no clue why he was targeted.

“He was a homebody … he loved his grandkids.”

Police standing guard on Marvon Downs Ave after the shooting. Photo / Jason Oxenham.

The Marvon Downs Ave resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said she ran out to the crashed van after hearing a volley of shots that sounded like “they were just outside [her] window”.

“I ran outside and saw our next-door neighbour’s courier van had driven into our neighbour’s fence.

“As soon as I saw that, me and my partner ran over to see if he was still alive and if we could save him, but he was already gone.”