Alleged driver of stolen BMW charged following Taylors Hill shooting

The alleged driver of a stolen BMW in which a man was shot dead at Taylors Hill has fronted court for the first time after he was charged with a string of serious offences.

The man shot dead in a suspected tit-for-tat killing at Taylors Hill on Sunday night might have been the instigator of the lethal, high-speed chase and firefight that led to his death.

Aymon Fatho, 31, was the passenger in a stolen BMW allegedly driven by his mate, Harley Guerra.

Police allege the duo had pursued two other men — one a former friend of Fatho’s — through the western suburbs.

According to documents filed in the Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on Friday, the group of men arranged to meet up in a Caroline Springs hotel carpark at 11.15pm.

Within 20 minutes, Fatho was dead.

In the carpark, police allege Fatho and Guerra kicked and punched the Lancer, prompting the men inside to flee.

Harley Guerra, 21, was accused of driving a stolen BMW before allegedly leaving his critically injured mate for dead in Taylors Hill. Source: Facebook

Court documents reveal either Fatho or Guerra repeatedly opened fire on the Mitsubishi Lancer they were chasing.

The two men in the Lancer were “petrified and fearing for their lives” as they conducted “U-turn after U-turn in an attempt to flee” Fatho and Guerra’s BMW.

Guerra repeatedly tried to run the Lancer off the road, including by attempting dangerous “pivot” manoeuvres.

The chase came to an end when the Lancer crashed into concrete bollards in Johnston Way, Taylors Hill, just over 3km from where the men had met up.

The petrified Lancer driver “rammed the bollards as hard as he could in an attempt to get through” and escape Fatho and Guerra.

One of the men in the Lancer, a 42-year-old Caroline Springs man, then pulled a sawn-off-rifle from the rear passenger seat and returned fire at Fatho.

A single bullet hit Fatho through the front windscreen.

It is alleged Guerra called triple-0 and fled the scene as his friend lay dying.

Fatho’s death was captured on nearby security cameras.

Aymon Fatho was fatally shot in Taylors Hill earlier this month. Picture: Supplied

Guerra faced court on Friday charged with conduct endangering life, conduct endangering serious injury, dangerous driving, driving unlicensed and breaching bail.

Guerra, unemployed, of Roxburgh Park, appeared briefly in court on Friday after being arrested at a Mulgrave property in an early morning raid.

He stormed out of his holding cell two minutes into the hearing.

His lawyer, Patrick Allen, told the court his client had custody management issues including an intellectual disability, and was withdrawing from drugs.

Mr Allen flagged his client, who in the past has identified as Indigenous, had ongoing mental health concerns.

Harley Guerra, 21, faced the Dandenong Magistrates Court on Friday

“(He has) other mental health concerns, if I can put it broadly,” Mr Allen said.

Guerra made no application for bail, which was formally refused, and is yet to enter pleas.

The father-of-one has repeatedly shared his affinity for fast cars on social media, while other images show him posing alongside friends showing off their gold chains, watches and tattoos.

One image is captioned: “Trust No One.”

The 42-year-old Caroline Springs man who killed Fatho handed himself into detectives on Tuesday and was released without charge. It is understood police accept he was acting in self-defence.

Detectives have also spoken with his passenger.

Guerra returns to court on May 30.

Fatho’s funeral is expected to be held at a Campbellfield church on Saturday, followed by a burial at Fawkner Cemetery.

The investigation is ongoing.