No charges for cop who shot Gabriel Messo dead in Gladstone Park

A Victorian police officer who fatally shot a man who was attacking his mother with a stick will not face criminal charges.

Police shot dead Gabriel Messo after the brutal attack on his mum Lilla Messo. Picture: Supplied

A Victorian police officer who shot dead a man who was attacking his mother with a stick will not face criminal charges.

The fatal shooting, which occurred after police were called to a violent incident in Melbourne’s north in July 2020, was referred to prosecutors following a Coronial inquest last year.

Gabriel Messo, 30, who had been diagnosed as bipolar, was stabbing his mother, Lilla, in the head and neck with a stick at John Coutts Reserve in Gladstone Park when police arrived at the scene.

After running ahead of his police partner, the officer yelled at Messo to drop his weapon.

After failing to comply with the officer’s orders, the constable fired two shots at Messo, hitting him in the chest.

Gabriel Messo was shot dead by police.

Gabriel Messo’s mother Lilla Messo.

But it was a third shot that killed Messo which led State Coroner John Cain to refer the case to the Office of Public Prosecutions for consideration.

While Mr Cain deemed it reasonable for the constable to fire the first two shots as Mrs Messo was being attacked, he found the third and fatal shot occurred after Messo had moved away from his mother and had dropped his weapon.

It was this final shot he described as “gravely concerning”.

In Coroner Cain’s findings, he said the officer might have committed an indictable offence during the shooting.

But the Herald Sun understands a police bulletin was sent to members on Monday updating them the case will not proceed against the constable.

He faced the potential of being criminally charged with homicide-related offences or conduct endangering life.

Messo was known to police.

A day before his death he had been taken to the Royal Melbourne Hospital under police guard.

Messo had been arrested after an incident at a relative’s house and was believed to be drug affected or having a psychotic episode.

He was later discharged and bailed before the attack on his mother.

Ms Messo survived the attack although she has suffered an acquired brain injury.

The Office of Prosecutions has been contacted for comment.

An Office of Public Prosecutions spokesman said the case against the officer did not have a reasonable prospect of conviction.

“After careful consideration of the available evidence, a determination was made that there were no reasonable prospects of conviction in relation to any indictable offence.”