Karaoke Bar Murder victim named

The 38 year-old man killed this morning in the car park behind the Top Karaoke Bar at 149 Symonds St was Tam Yam Ah. [The surname is Tam but it is said first]

He was a part owner and the manager of the bar which was closed at the time of the shooting.

He was also one of the residents of a set of flats overlooking the murder scene which has been cordoned off since Police were called there shortly after 4.45am.

Detective Senior Sergeant Mark Benefield says the post-mortem on Mr Tam's body was carried out this afternoon and confirms that he died after being shot once in the chest.

"We've had a busy day setting the team up and doing the very important early work around these types of investigations," he said.

"We've spoken to a number of people who were in the vicinity of where Mr Tam was shot, but progress is slowed by the fact we're dealing with people whose English is not their first language.

"We've been joined by members of the Asian Crime Unit and other staff from throughout the greater Auckland region and hope to have a clearer picture by the end of the day as to what sort of situation we're dealing with."

Mr Benefield said that, at this stage, robbery did not appear to be a motive in the killing.

He urged people with information about who the killer might be to contact Auckland Central Police.

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.

Auckland City Police have started a homicide investigation after being called to the Top Karaoke Bar at 5am today.

A 38 year-old man was shot and killed outside the bar at 149 Symonds St shortly before then.

Police have cordoned the scene off and a part of Symonds St is closed from Newton Rd to the Motorway off-ramp.

Motorists were advised to avoid the area if possible, though two of the four lanes remain open.