Hunt continues for bank teller's killer

8.40am

The distraught mother of dead bank teller John Vaughan has been getting round-the-clock support since a cold-blooded killer shot her son in the head during a bank raid yesterday.

Mr Vaughan, 44, was doing as he was told by the armed robber when the man opened fire without warning a few minutes after midday and fled from the Mangere Bridge branch of the ASB Bank with what is believed to be thousands of dollars in cash.

Mr Vaughan was rushed to hospital but died last night after his life support system was turned off.

He was the killer's second victim in a week after pizza bar worker Marcus Doig, 23, died instantly when the gunman used the same rifle to shoot him in the head, also as he was doing as ordered during a holdup.

Within four hours of yesterday's shooting police revealed the same man killed Mr Doig and Mr Vaughan and warned South Auckland businesses handling cash to review their security.

Detective Inspector Steve Rutherford also cautioned people not to rile the man, described as a cold-blooded, heartless and ruthless killer.

ASB Bank managing director Hugh Burrett said today the bank was doing all it could to help the police and support Mr Vaughan's mother and nine-year-old son Ben.

"We have had staff with them all day yesterday."

Mr Burrett said staff and victim support counsellors had also been with staff from the Mangere Bridge branch.

"This has been our worst fear and naturally it shakes you but you see so much strength come out of different people and the staff have been exceptional at the branch," Mr Burrett told NewstalkZB today.

Mr Burrett said extra security guards would be posted to most branches in south, east and central Auckland.

He said Mr Vaughan and other bank staff were doing as they were told by the gunman and as his training had taught him when the gunman opened fire.

"He was standing there with his hands up. They all operated as they should do."

Mr Burrett said the entire bank security would be reviewed although it was considered state of the art.

"But even saying that we will have to review it all and move forward from there."

Mr Burrett said the "frightening and terrible thing" was that the gunman was prepared to shoot people, regardless of what they did and how they co-operated.

"It doesn't matter what you do. If you have someone like this out there is a real concern, obviously," Mr Burrett said.

The gunman is thought to have fled to a car parked in a parking area across the road from the bank.

Police believe a driver was waiting in the black or dark blue car which had a spoiler on the boot.

Detective Inspector Steve Rutherford said the gunman screamed obscenities and shot Mr Vaughan in "another senseless, reckless, cruel killing".

Mr Rutherford said the police needed help from the public and the criminal underworld to track the gunman down. Information could be given in confidence to the 24-hour hotline, 0800 573 383.

A significant sum would be paid to anyone with information which led to the gunman, if the informant was motivated by money, Mr Rutherford said.

The gunman is described as a Maori or possibly a Pacific Islander, between 18 and 25 years old. He is between 175cm and 180cm tall and has a thin to medium build.

Yesterday he was wearing a black beanie with two white stripes, a red checked shirt and blue cut-off denim shorts.

Mr Rutherford warned businesses handling cash to review their security and members of the public to co-operate fully if they were confronted by the gunman.

"For goodness sake, co-operate and carry out the demands of the robber. Don't do anything to agitate or upset this person."

He said he was satisfied the gunman also robbed the East Tamaki TAB at gunpoint on April 22. No one was hurt in that robbery.

- NZPA

Do you have information for the police?
Ring 0800 573 383