Partner pays tribute to Ikenasio Tuivasa after Ravenhall drive-by shooting
The children of Ravenhall shooting victim Ikenasio Tuivasa are struggling to accept their father’s death, his partner revealed.
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The partner of a man gunned down in a drive-by shooting outside a Ravenhall pool and shisha lounge has revealed her heartbreak.
Ikenasio “Sio” Tuivasa, 33, was killed during the early hours of Sunday morning when multiple shots were fired at him from a moving vehicle outside the Westwood Drive venue.
A 24-year-old Williams Landing man who was seriously injured in the shooting was rushed to hospital.
Mr Tuivasa’s partner Mayra Piniata paid tribute to the Deer Park man online.
“I can’t imagine the pain you went through til your last breath,” Ms Piniata said.
“I’m so sorry Sio. The pain I am going through is not easy, but I am being strong for our kids. Our kids miss you so much. I promise I will take care of our babies.”
Ms Piniata said the pair’s five children were very upset and did not believe their father was gone.
As of Monday 3pm, no charges have been laid and police have not released details on the killer, the accomplice or the vehicle the pair were driving.
“The investigation remains ongoing,” police spokesman Adam West said.
Homicide detectives were on Monday combing through hours of CCTV footage seized from the vicinity of the crime scene.
They will also review fingerprints taken from the scene, in particular from Mr Tuivasa’s Ford vehicle which was left at the scene.
Extended family on Monday rallied around Ms Piniata and her five children at their Deer Park home.
Relatives paid tribute to Mr Tuivasa online, saying he was a much-loved dad and brother.
“You took a piece of my heart with you,” Poleen Tareke said.
“We love and miss you so much, our brother. Rest in God’s loving arms.”
The surviving victim attended the crime scene on Sunday afternoon with a bandage wrapped around his leg, saying it was “random” and he had been “unlucky”.
“Wrong time, wrong place,” he said.
Homicide squad detective Sergeant Simon Quinnell said police were probing the motive.
“We’ve looked into the deceased (man’s) criminal background, very little is there, and certainly nothing to suggest that anything that he’d been involved in would lead to this,” Sergeant Quinnell said.
“There’s no information at this stage to suggest that this was a random attack. An important part of our investigation is to establish whether it was a targeted attack on the group of people.”
Homicide Squad Detective Sergeant Simon Quinnell said it was unknown if the victims were the gunman’s intended target.
“We’ve looked into the deceased’s criminal background — very little is there and certainly nothing to suggest that anything that he’d been involved in would lead to this,” he said.
“He was a family man and certainly someone you wouldn’t expect this to occur … We’ll consider all aspects of what could’ve happened here.
“An important part of our investigation is to establish whether there was a random attack or whether it was a targeted attack on the group of people.”
HOW SHOOTING DRAMA UNFOLDED
Homicide Squad Detective Sergeant Simon Quinnell said the incident unfolded while a group, including the victims, was gathered in a car park outside the pool hall after the venue hit its patron density limits.
He said there was no known motive behind the shooting, and varying descriptions of the gunman’s car were varied, “but not enough to give a solid description at this stage”.
Det Sgt Quinnell also said there was no information the victims were associated with each other or linked to the offenders.
Homicide squad detectives, local police and detectives were scouring the scene on Sunday morning and have cordoned off the area.
The pool hall and shisha bar is next to a mechanic, panel shop, and only a short distance to the Hillsong Church and a funeral home.
The venue operates on Saturday between 5pm and 3am and asks patrons to bring cash instead of using EFTPOS.
Its dress code states “no singlets or thongs, no work wear, hoodies or baggy wear”.
According to Google reviews, customers of the pool hall have commented it has a “great atmosphere” and is a “nice place to relax with mates and play billiards”.
Lounge owner Makram Richani said it was “heartbreaking” for the man who had died.
Mr Richani said he was working at the time of the incident on Saturday but did not hear shots as loud music was blaring at the Westwood Drive club.
“People started running in, no one knew what was going on,” he told the Herald Sun.
“We brought the man upstairs and I was on the phone to the paramedics.
“The guy who got shot in his right leg, near the knee, I was applying pressure to it. He’d been a patron for three years.”
Mr Richani said his family was “pissed off” about the shooting and feared bad publicity surrounding the incident would ruin their already-struggling business.
He said “nothing happened in the shop” and the drive-by shooting happened down the street.
“It is heartbreaking for the man who died,” Mr Richani said.
“Nothing happened in the shop, the person (who was shot) got brought into our shop for safety,” he said. “We brought the man in to look after him.”
Mr Richani said his family business had suffered due to the pandemic and it was upsetting to read reports of his business becoming embroiled in the fatal shooting.
“Why do we have to suffer,” he said. “We have never had any trouble and everyone gets along at our club.
“I’m disappointed, it is upsetting. This was a place for everyone and everyone will tell you there was never any trouble. It is not fair.
“I don’t want people to feel the place is unsafe now. I am upset, it is sad. I don’t know what this is over, if it is a mistake.
“It could have been anyone’s son or daughter who was shot. I had family there that day. It is upsetting. Stupid people do stupid things.”
CARS PROBED IN SEARCH FOR CLUES
Earlier on Sunday, about a dozen forensic markers placed next to a black Ford Focus and another black hatchback parked outside the pool hall.
Police confirmed the black Ford belonged to the man who died, with a Samoan flag visible hanging from the rear view mirror.
Forensic officers, who were scouring the area for clues, found what appeared to be a tomahawk on the ground outside the hall, which was placed in an evidence bag.
Det Sgt Quinnell said police would scour CCTV footage for clues.
“We received some CCTV at this stage and it’s ongoing … aspects of the offence would’ve been captured,” he said.
He said police had spoken to the victims’ distraught families, adding: “They’re finding it difficult to explain why a night out has ended in such a tragedy.”
NEIGHBOURS SHOCKED BY SHOOTING
A man walking his dog in the area said the pool hall was busy on Friday and Saturday nights and was popular with young people.
He said he hadn’t seen any troublesome behaviour in the past, adding the venue opened about a year ago.
Local real estate agent George Merceica said he was saddened by the incident.
“It’s a really good area. A lot of clients are very well-off business people,” he said.
“It’s bad something like this happens; it puts a smear on everything. Warehousing in that area is so popular.”
Mr Mercieca said he felt safe when visiting clients in the area, including Westwood Drive.
“They are really good people in that area. It’s very sad to hear something like this. It’s definitely what no one wants anywhere.
“I’ve never heard it before. I haven’t even encountered violence in the street.”
Huss Haidal, who manages a nearby mattress business, said he was “very sad“ upon hearing the news.
He said he had never come across troublesome behaviour in the 18 months he had been at his business, adding it was a busy street with cars “up and down”.
No arrests have been made and the investigation is ongoing.
Anyone who witnessed the incident or with information is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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