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The wife of an Indian liquor store owner murdered by armed thieves has now lost her grandfather, after telling him of her husband's murder.
Harjinder Kaur's grandfather was told of Navtej Singh's death yesterday.
Sikh Society Auckland president Manpreet Singh said once the elderly south Auckland man got
the news "he was in shock and started shivering".
He passed away today, after a long illness, as police were closing in on Navtej Singh's killers.
A funeral is planned for Friday, the day after Harjinder Kaur farewells her husband.
His death came as police questioned people and raided several houses in south Auckland today as they hunted for the killers.
Some of those interviewed lived only a few blocks from the Riverton Liquor Store in Randwick Park, near Manurewa, where Mr Singh, 30, was shot by a robber with a .22 calibre rifle on Saturday night.
Three robbers entered the store about 9pm and after shooting Mr Singh fled with alcohol and the cashbox.
Father-of-three Mr Singh had his hands up and was doing what he was told when one of the robbers shot him in the chest, rupturing a major blood vessel and causing massive internal bleeding.
He died in hospital the next day.
Today, three police cars blocked a man's car in nearby Balloch St, before approaching him.
The man was spoken to but police have refused to say what was discussed. Earlier they said the man was not a suspect.
At another house 200 metres around the corner an armed police sergeant stood guard. After several hours a man was returned to the house in a police car.
In nearby Trimdon St, also a short distance from the store where Mr Singh was shot, a third house was cordoned off.
Police had search warrants for several properties but said no one had been arrested.
They were confident the three who robbed the store and a fourth man who drove the getaway car would be found.
Detective Inspector Jim Gallagher told nzherald.co.nz that no arrests had been made and the cordon was part of "ongoing enquiries".
"It's related to the enquiries that are under way in relation to the shooting," Mr Gallagher said.
"But the long and short of it is, we haven't got the offenders. If we had, we'd love to tell you," Mr Gallagher said.
He said the inquiry would be a long slow process.
Police later went to a house on Shifnal Drive. It was not clear if their inquiries were related to the shooting of Mr Singh.
Mr Gallagher said yesterday detectives hunting Mr Singh's killers believed the offenders were locals.
The Herald was last night given the name of a possible suspect. It was handed on to police, who are understood to have added the name to a potential suspects' list.
Mr Gallagher said he believed local knowledge was needed in the robbery and the block of streets around Mr Singh's store held the clues to solving the crime.
The area, known as Randwick Park, is between Alfriston Rd, Shifnal Drive, Porchester Rd and Hyperion Drive.
"This is where police believe many of the answers to the crime will be found," Mr Gallagher said. "It requires the full support of the Randwick Park community to recognise that they can assist the police.
"It is most likely the four individuals responsible for this killing are still living among them.
"These four have killed an innocent man for a few bottles of booze ... "No doubt, several or many of these others, family, friends and associates, would have now shared in the loot, the drinks that were stolen for the life of Mr Singh.
"And these others will have to consider that the drink they have shared was paid for with this man's life and what they enjoyed may now have a very bitter taste."
Mr Gallagher said "a range of factors" led police to believe the offenders had local knowledge of the store and surrounding areas.
He also said the men responsible were likely to have been to the store previously, and he was sure they had committed previous crimes.
And he said he was "110 per cent confident" police would bring them to justice.
Locals were still shocked at the shooting today.
Richard Moeakiola, 32, who found God four years ago after years of smoking cannabis, yesterday prayed for Mr Singh.
"He was a great guy with the smile. It is shocking what has happened."
Several Maori wardens also arrived in the area today to help the community.
George Ngati, the Maori wardens' Auckland regional co-ordinator, said many people were still scared after the shooting.
"The Maori wardens are here to reassure the community Maori wardens are here to support the community and that their safety is first and foremost," Mr Ngati said.
A clear picture has now emerged of what happened immediately after the shooting.
The video surveillance film shows that while police and paramedics gathered at a cordon, up to 12 people trampled through the store as Mr Singh lay bleeding on the floor.
Some were family and neighbours, who spent much of their time on the phone to police and the St John Ambulance Service and going behind the counter to check on Mr Singh.
Others were customers who peered curiously over the counter.
One man bought a pack of premixed drinks. Police initially said the man stole the drinks during the commotion, but the surveillance film shows him placing money on the counter before leaving with the drinks.
Police say they still want to speak to this man, and four women who were also in the store, about what they saw that night.
They are also hoping to hear from people in a white four-wheel drive seen leaving the area at the time the robbers drove away.
