A police investigation is underway after a man was shot dead in a west Belfast social club on Sunday afternoon.
Two masked men entered the busy Donegal Celtic social club shortly before 2.30pm, where they shot car dealer Sean Fox in the head a number of times.
Police have identified the chief suspect as a hitman who is believed to have murdered up to six people since 2018 after eyewitnesses claimed that the shooting appeared to be a "professional hit".
Mr Fox was pronounced dead at the scene.
The gunmen are believed to have fled the scene on foot along the Suffolk Road before disappearing into the Lenadoon estate.
Police moved staff and customers into another room while they preserved the crime scene and took statements from witnesses.
Mr Fox, who is believed to have been a close friend of drug dealer Jim' JD' Donegan, who was killed in December 2018, had been drinking with friends at the time of his death.
It is understood he had been warned that his life was under threat in recent days. However, despite this, he continued to socialise in public with friends.
Originally from west Belfast, Mr Fox had moved into Mr Donegan's Lisburn home after his death and had taken over part of his car dealing business, according to the Belfast Telegraph.
A spokesperson for the PSNI said on Sunday: "Police are currently at the scene of a shooting incident in the Suffolk Road area of West Belfast this afternoon, Sunday, October 2nd.
"Part of Suffolk Road is closed and a number of diversions are in place."
A spokesperson for the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service said: "The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service received a 999 call at approximately 14:45 following reports of a shooting incident in the Suffolk Road area of Belfast.
"NIAS despatched 2 Emergency Crews to the incident and also tasked the Charity Air Ambulance, with HEMS crew on board, to attend.
"Following assessment and initial treatment, no patients were taken from the scene."
Police are also hoping to speak to a number of people who fled the bar in terror in the immediate aftermath of the shooting.
Mr Fox is thought to be the sixth victim of an experienced hitman who killed JD Donegan less than a mile away from Sunday's shooting back in December 2018.
The 43-year-old, who was a major player in the drugs trade, was shot dead as he waited to pick up his 13-year-old son outside St Mary's Grammar School.
Dissident republicans were said to be behind the killing.
Mr Donegan was shot numerous times in the head in broad daylight before his killer made off on foot into a local housing estate.
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