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As a police manhunt scours the country to find those who��gunned down������“loving” East Auckland granddad, questions are being asked why the crime took place.��

Tuipulotu Kokohu Vi, also known as Saia, has been described as a kind, church-going man who doted on his grandkids.��

Yet he was brutally killed last Monday when his��courier van was struck by gunfire��outside his Pixie Place home in Pakuranga Heights at around 6.45am.��

Police are yet to arrest anyone in connection with the��fatal shooting,��while friends and neighbours have expressed disbelief anyone would want to harm the 59-year-old.��

However, the��Herald��also recently revealed��Vi’s son was targeted in a drive-by-shooting��just last month on the North Shore.��

His son and daughter are also facing serious money laundering and drug importing charges.��

Here’s what we know so far:��

What happened?��

Courier driver Vi had been reportedly driving his van out of his Pixie Place home about 6.45am on Monday morning when it was struck by a volley of bullets.��

A Marvon Downs Ave neighbour told the��Herald��the crack of the bullets 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,” she said.��

“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.”��

Both the van’s passenger and driver’s side windows had been smashed, apparently by gunfire, other witnesses said.��

Tuipulotu Kokohu Vi, also known Saia, has been identified as the victim of a drive-by shooting in Pakuranga Heights on Monday.��

Another Marvon Downs Ave resident said he heard six gunshots that “sounded like a normal handgun”, while a third resident said the shots fired in quick succession.��

“They were louder than a firework going off. It sounded like a pop.��

“They all went off within a few seconds.”��

Police and emergency teams quickly descended on the residential street, cordoning it off as they tried to piece together the puzzle.��

“Mr Vi died in a shocking display of violence, and we understand the community is feeling uneasy,” Detective Inspector Shaun Vickers later said.��

“At this point, we want to assure the community that [we] are doing everything we can to piece together exactly what has happened and who was involved.”��

Who was Tuipulotu Kokohu Vi?��

The shooting victim was a courier driver, grandfather, dog walker and churchgoer, originally from Tonga, according to family, friends and neighbours.��

A member of the Vi family who answered the door at his Pixie Place address said she didn’t know why anyone would want to hurt their grandfather.��

“He is a grandfather, and a loving grandfather. He was a very hard worker and just a very loving person overall. He committed his life to the ministry of God.”��

The��Herald��understands he lived with his wife, daughter and two grandchildren.��

The neighbour who rushed to Vi’s aid immediately after the shooting said Vi would often wave as he walked his dog, and described him as a “homebody” who loved his grandkids.��

Police at the scene of the fatal shooting incident in Pakuranga. Photo / Jason Oxenham��

Family members also praised him on social media as a kind and smiling man.��

One tribute said “RIP Dad”, while others sent prayers to Kokohu Vi’s family and loved ones.��

“RIP Dad Saia Kokohu Vi, ofa lahi atu,” posted one person on Facebook.��

Another said they could “not forget [his] face”.��

“Most kind man.”��

A third urged him to keep “smiling in heaven” and sent condolences to his widow.��

His employer Post Haste said it was “devastated” by his death and was offering support to Vi’s colleagues.��

Was this a case of mistaken identity?��

Police say their massive manhunt is yet to locate whoever pulled the trigger to gun down Vi.��

However, the��Herald��revealed on Thursday that Vi’s son had been targeted in a North Shore drive-by-shooting last month.��

The 33-year-old son had been on bail, living at the North Shore home at the time, as previously��revealed by the��Herald.��

The Beach Haven property on Rambler Cres was sprayed with bullets at around 6.30am on July 23.��

The��Herald��also reported Vi’s son and daughter, who lives at Vi’s Pixie Place home, are facing serious money laundering and drug importing chargers.��

The daughter’s partner also reportedly lives at the home and faces charges. He has also worked as a courier driver.��

The police are yet to arrest anyone in connection with the fatal shooting. Photo / David Williams��

Vi’s son’s charges were laid as part of��Operation Worthington,��and allege he was a client of a Chinese money laundering syndicate.��

His sister and her partner were also charged with drug importing and money laundering offences as co-offenders.��

The couple were living with Vi at Pixie Place, according to court documents and electoral roll records.��

Her partner’s occupation is listed as a courier driver.��

There is no suggestion Tuipolotu Vi was involved in any crimes.��

Asked whether the shootings at Beach Haven and Pakuranga were connected, or if detectives were looking into the possibility that the fatal shooting was a case of mistaken identity, the police media team did not respond to��Herald��questions.��

Instead, they issued a general press release that confirmed the “familial link” between both addresses that were targeted.��

“We are working hard to understand the motivation behind both shootings,” Detective Inspector Vickers said.��

“It is still very early in our investigation, and we have a lot of ground to cover as we piece this together.”��

Police hope you can help��

Vickers said police are seeking any CCTV or dashcam footage from anyone travelling through Pakuranga Heights between 4.45am and 7.30am on Monday, August 19.��

In particular, Vickers said the investigation team wanted to hear from anyone on Cascades Rd, Archmillen Ave, Hope Farm Ave or Marvon Downs Ave at that time.��

“We would like to thank those people who have spoken to us already, and encourage anyone who has any information, no matter how small, to get in touch with our team.”��

People in the area who have photos or videos that may be relevant can upload them here:����

Anyone with information can contact Police via the 105 phone service or online at��.��

Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.��