Police officer cleared in fatal shooting of Taniela Ahokava

A police officer has been cleared over the fatal shooting of a suspected thief who led police on a wild car chase.

A police officer who shot dead a suspected burglar during a wild car chase through Melbourne’s western suburbs has been cleared of wrongdoing.

Coroner Paresa Spanos this week found the officer, who cannot be named, acted appropriately when he opened fire on Taniela Ahokava, 23, as he pinned him against a wall in a stolen van in the early hours of September 2 2016.

Mr Ahokava had led police on a pursuit through St Albans and Tullamarine with his brother Penisimani Ahokava and friend Joshua Iviiti before dumping their ute and running to an industrial estate in Gladstone Park.

Taniela Ahokava, who also used the first names Kuela and Guelah, died when a police officer who was pinned between a van and a wall opened fire in Carrick Drive in 2016.

Officers deterred the trio by using stop sticks to damage the wheels on their ute, which prompted them to run into a nearby warehouse in a bid to find a new getaway car.

The men climbed into a van parked inside the property and the unnamed officer fired several shots at the van’s wheels in another attempt to stop them from escaping.

After two officers tried unsuccessfully to arrest Mr Ahokava’s brother and friend inside the van, Mr Ahokava sped towards the unnamed officer, pinning him against the wall and injuring him.

It was then that the officer fired several shots into the van’s windshield, killing Mr Ahokava.

Emergency crews, including police, tried to revive Mr Ahokava but he died at the scene.

A coroner found find that the officer shot him twice; once in the right jaw and again, fatally, in the left side of his head.

The officer described seeing the whites of Mr Ahokava’s eyes when he fired the gunshots as he experienced excruciating pain from being pinned between the van and the wall.

He told the court: “The van kind of rocked back but as soon as it did it was like he accelerated forward again and pushed me into the wall”.

“At that point I shot him. I discharged a couple of times at his body.”

Investigators probed the scene near Tullamarine where Mr Ahokava was shot dead Picture: Nicole Garmston

A toxicology report revealed that Mr Ahokava was high on amphetamines when he was killed.

His family criticised the police’s actions in the lead-up to the shooting, alleging that the officers “created a sense of panic in Mr Ahokava, Penisimani and Iviiti” which “escalated their behaviours”.

They also claimed that the officer and his colleague “failed” to wait for the dog squad to arrive as planned.

Ms Spanos said the officers’ pursuit of the stolen Mitsubishi initially did not meet police standards due to unclear communication of which officer led the chase.

But she said the officer who fatally wounded Mr Ahokava acted reasonably when he was struck by the van.

“In the circumstances, Officer one’s actions were reasonable and proportionate,” Ms Spanos said.

In relation to the pursuit leading up to the shooting, she said: “The pursuit was being conducted with appropriate regard to the safety of Mr Ahokava, Penisimani and Iviiti, police members and the broader public”.

Forensic investigators at the crime scene at Carrick drive. Picture: Nicole Garmston

Police were familiar with Mr Ahokava in the year before his death after seizing 14 stolen cars from his Deer park home.

Mr Ahokava had also attempted to evade police on more than a dozen occasions and had several warrants out for his arrest.

Ahokava’s sister Nenisi Poleo in 2021 told the Coroners Court her family would “forever be broken” by the actions of police.

“I will forever be missing my dearest brother whose life was cut short due to unforeseen actions by members of the police force who are advised to protect fellow citizens in any circumstances,” she said.