Police not human, says shot man's mate (+photos, video)

Harjinder Kaur rushed to the side of her husband, Navtej Singh, as soon as she heard he had been shot. Photo / Supplied

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to phone 0508 RIVERTON or 0508-748-378.

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Police are being accused of "not being human" after they waited 26 minutes before entering the liquor store where armed robbery victim Navtej Singh lay fatally wounded on the floor.

His wife, his business partner and a close friend were all there with him, but officers would still not go in despite 111 staff being assured the robbers had left.

Mr Singh died in Middlemore Hospital early yesterday from injuries suffered when he was shot in the chest with a .22 rifle during the raid on his liquor store in Riverton Drive, Manurewa, on Saturday night.

As Mr Singh fell to the floor, the gunman and two accomplices took boxes of alcohol and the shop's cash.

Security camera footage shows them laughing as they leave.

Mr Singh's business partner, Gurwinder Singh, called police and ambulance staff within minutes of the shooting but it was half an hour before paramedics were allowed in.

That delay was precious time which Navtej Singh's grieving family believe hindered the 30-year-old's chance of survival, and they now want answers.

Manurewa MP George Hawkins plans to meet Acting Police Commissioner Rob Pope today to discuss the family's concerns.

However, police and St John staff have defended the time it took them to enter the liquor store, saying it was an armed situation and best-practice procedures - including waiting at a safe point - had to be followed.

Detective Inspector Jim Gallagher said police had to establish the gunman's whereabouts to ensure no one else's life was in danger.

They also had to wait for firearms to arrive so armed police could check the scene before letting anyone, including St John, into the store.

However, family friend Sandeep Verma - who arrived minutes after the shooting - said he told 111 operators the robbers were long gone, so there was no excuse for not letting help in sooner.

"This is not acceptable. Everyone was calling cops and an ambulance from the carpark so that means no one is around," he said. "If you are still waiting for police then that means they are just abiding by the rules. They are not human beings. They just follow the rules which are on the books, that's it."

While waiting for help, Mr Singh made his own way to the toilet before returning to the floor, where he vomited blood several times.

He was unable to lie still for long because of the pain and kept asking his wife - who had been called to the scene by Gurwinder Singh - to call for help.

Mr Verma made several calls to 111 as his friend's condition deteriorated, but despite being able to hear the sirens down the road, he said, help did not turn up.

"I said to them he's vomiting blood ... They said the ambulance is just one minute away. I was pretty much assured the ambulance was just around the corner but they didn't arrive."

Asked if having an ambulance there sooner would have saved Mr Singh's life, Mr Verma replied: "If ambulance would have come in 10 to 15 minutes then I think there was a chance of his survival."

Mr Gallagher said there would be a review into the response time but he maintained police did their best given they had to follow procedures.

St John executive Gary Salmon said waiting at the safe point was difficult for paramedics but absolutely vital given the dangers involved in responding to a shooting. "This is one of the worst situations our crews can be in. They are surrounded by potential danger, they have a patient who is known to have been shot ... and yet we can't get to them.

"We are terribly sorry for the feelings of the family and we understand entirely how they must feel knowing that we are so close and yet not there, but the problem for us is we have to know the zone is safe."

* DELAYED

Police
9.05pm: Police receive first 111 call

9.06pm: First police units dispatched

9.09pm: Police advised of shooting

9.12pm: First unit, a police dog handler, at safe point. Helicopter overtop within minutes

9.20pm: Confirmation that person has been shot

9.31pm: Police enter store

9.36pm: Advise St John they can go in

St John

9.07pm: St John receive first 111 call.

9.10pm: First unit dispatched

9.18pm: Rapid Response Unit arrives at safe point.

9.33pm: Safe point moved closer to scene

9.38pm: Senior paramedics enter store.

9.52pm: Ambulance leaves for hospital