Spokesmen for NZ's Sikh society believe race and religion were not factors in the shooting. Photo / Greg Bowker
Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to phone 0508 RIVERTON or 0508-748-378.
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Video: Security footage of the shooting
Gunshot victim Navtej Singh was a loving family man.
Like any proud dad, the 30-year-old liquor store owner boasted about his three young daughters and was quick to introduce the girls when regular customers saw them in the shop.
At nights, he was even known to cry himself
to sleep because he missed his 3 1/2-year-old, who was in India visiting with her grandfather.
But this week, the doting father was snatched from his family with the single pull of a trigger.
He was shot in the chest while working in his Riverton Liquor store - 300m from the Manurewa home he shared with his wife and children, the youngest just 6 months.
Family friend Sandeep Verma described Mr Singh as a "wonderful family man".
He had worked at the liquor store for about three years before taking co-ownership of it about four months ago. Before taking on the business he spent a lot of time with family and friends as he knew he'd be busy afterwards.
"I'm going to miss him," Mr Verma told the Herald.
Mr Singh's widow, Harjinder Kaur, was devastated and was being supported by family, friends and members of the Indian community.
Daljit Singh of the NZ Sikh Society said the killing had shocked the community but he believed race and religion were not factors. "[It is] an awful, senseless incident."
Police now have around 25 officers working on the homicide case.
They believe four people were involved - three in the shop and one in a dark-coloured getaway sedan.
They want information on a white 4WD seen leaving at speed at the same time as the dark-coloured car.
Detective Inspector Jim Gallagher said police also needed to hear from three women who entered the store shortly after the shooting and a man who stole a box of alcohol while Mr Singh lay dying behind the counter.
