Family fill victim’s final days
The 27-year-old man killed in a gangland shooting spent the day before his death at a children’s park for his son’s seventh birthday.
Mongrel Mob member Kevin Ratana, also known as ‘‘Kastro’’, was killed on Tuesday morning in what relatives have described as an attack on a family house by a rival gang.
The shooter was still on the loose yesterday morning. Police have confirmed both the gunman and Ratana were ‘‘known’’ to them.
On Monday, Ratana took his eldest son, Harlem-ray, out to celebrate his seventh birthday at the popular Ko¯ whai Park children’s playground on the banks of the Whanganui River for the day, then drove him back to his home in Hastings that evening.
Cousin Shan Albert said Ratana grew up as one of the youngest cousins in a close extended family.
‘‘He was a great father to his two sons’’, the other of which is 3.
‘‘Yes, he was a gang member, but that was just one side of him. It was family first,’’ she said.
Ratana grew up one street over from the street he was shot in. His father was involved with gangs for many years, moving between a number of them, and Ratana grew up around them.
Police investigations and forensic examinations continued at the Puriri St house in Castlecliff, Whanganui, yesterday. Police believe more than one person carried out the shooting. No-one has been arrested in connection with the incident.
Ratana’s involvement with the Mongrel Mob included spending time with them in Hastings as a teenager, and in Australia, but he had shifted back to Whanganui in recent years.
‘‘He was a daddy’s boy. He was brought up here in Tongariro St. He went to Cullinane College until he went to Hastings when he was 15,’’ Albert said.
Several relatives spoke of Ratana starting a new phase in his life, with a new partner and stepchildren. He had plans to move in with them in another house in Whanganui that would be safer, because the Puriri St house was in an area the rival Black Power gang were active.
His aunt, who did not want to be named, said Ratana was a family man and would help people with food, money, furniture, cars and finding a place to stay.
Albert said he was known for his association with the Mongrel Mob. ‘‘Everyone knew who he was, but he put on a front.’’