Otahuhu homicide: Police say victim didn't know gunman

Police have named the victim of a shooting in the south Auckland suburb of Otahuhu - and say he wouldn't have known his killer.

Emergency services were called to Seaside Park on Brady Rd at 4:40am on Saturday, where they found a critically injured man. He died at the scene, despite medical attention.

Now police have named him as 21-year-old Samiuela Anania Tupou, who had recently returned with his family from the US to live in New Zealand.

"Family and friends describe him as a fun-loving, hard-working young man who regularly attended church and enjoyed social occasions with his friends and family," says Detective Senior Sergeant Darrell Harpur.

"At this stage we believe the offender was not known to him. We are committed to locating the offender or offenders and holding them to account."

A homicide investigation has been launched, and police ask anyone who might have seen a light or gold coloured people mover, similar to a Honda Odyssey, in the south Auckland area on Friday night or early Saturday morning between 2-6am to come forward.

Anyone who knows anything about the incident is urged to call police on (09) 261 1300 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Newshub.