Police say they will review how long it took them to respond to the fatal armed robbery in south Auckland, as they continue to hunt for the four men involved in the shooting.
Navtej Singh, the 30-year-old co-owner of the Riverton Liquor Shop in Manurewa, died at Middlemore Hospital early today, 27 hours after being shot in the chest by the robbers.
Police are looking for three men, one of whom was brandishing a 22 calibre rifle, captured on the store's security footage and a fourth man who drove their getaway car.
Counties Manukau Detective Inspector Jim Gallagher told reporters today that police were relying on feedback from the public to identify the men.
He said people who knew the men would recognise them instantly from the footage and appealed for them to come forward.
Police today established a helpline for the public to call with any information which might lead to the identification of the men but said they were relying on those closest to them to come forward.
Mr Gallagher was questioned about how long it took for police to respond to initial emergency calls, with reports it took St John ambulance 38 minutes from the first emergency call before they were able to give medical assistance to Mr Singh.
St John were not allowed into the liquor shop to help Mr Singh until police gave them clearance to go in.
Mr Singh's colleague Gurwinder Singh had criticised the response time from police and ambulance services.
Mr Gallagher said there would be a review into the response time but said police had followed the standard procedure when firearms were involved.
The response time was appropriate given the circumstances and police were confident ambulance staff were allowed in at the earliest possible time, he said.
Mr Gallagher also called for people who entered the liquor store after Mr Singh had been shot to come forward.
Among those were a group of four females who entered the store but did not buy anything.
Mr Gallagher said police was also keen to speak to a man who entered the store and took a box of alcopops without paying.
It was not clear if the man had seen Mr Singh, he said.
Police have also asked the driver of an older white van which was in the area during the shooting to come forward.
Mr Gallagher said the shooting was a tragedy for Mr Singh's family.
Mr Singh, the father of three children under the age of five, had co-owned the business for four months.
Mr Gallagher said the three men were laughing as they left the premises and would have been aware of what they had done.
The men stole alcohol, shot someone then left at high speed, celebrating what they had achieved, he said.
Twenty-five police are working on the investigation.
Anyone with information can call police on 0508 748 378.
