A post mortem examination of the man who was murdered behind the Top Karaoke Bar shortly before 5am this morning will get underway at midday.
The 38 year-old was gunned down as he tried to get into or out of his vehicle in a car park behind the two storey building at 149 Symonds St. Police are in the process of notifying his next of kin in another part of the country.
A team of detectives has been drawn together from throughout the Auckland region and will spend the rest of the day establishing their phases of the homicide investigation, including local area inquiries, interviewing residents of a flat that overlooked the murder scene and speaking with people who were in the immediate vicinity at the time of the shooting.
The scene has been cordoned off and will remain so for some time yet. No weapon has been located and Police are appealing to anyone who saw a person or people acting suspiciously on Symonds St between 4.30am and 5am to contact the Operation Top City team at the Auckland Central Police Station.
Motorists are still advised to avoid the area of Symonds St between Newton Rd and the Symonds St off-ramp as one side of the street remains cordoned off.
ENDS
Issued by Noreen Hegarty
Auckland City Police Communications Manager
Ph 09 302 6947 or 0274-951-589
Website: www.police.govt.nz