Connor Chapman's brother was shot months before the murder of Elle Edwards while his mum's house was burgled during his last spell in prison.
The 23-year-old was jailed for life with a minimum term of 48 years after being found unanimously guilty of murdering the popular beautician, who was shot dead outside the Lighthouse pub in Wallasey, Wirral, on Christmas Eve last year. Nigel Power KC, prosecuting, told Liverpool Crown Court during his sentencing on July 7, that the killer's mum's house was targeted during an aggravated burglary during his most recent stretch behind bars - from which he was freed in June 2022.
He also outlined another "significant precursor event" leading up to the Lighthouse shooting, describing how his brother Lewis Chapman was then shot on Danger Lane in Moreton on August 10 last year. His assailant was said to have used a Skorpion submachine gun, the same type of weapon which killed 26-year-old Elle, but that the sibling "refused to assist or cooperate with the police".
READ MORE: Elle Edwards latest: Connor Chapman sentenced to 48 years in prison
The ECHO reported at the time that Merseyside Police were called to the scene at around 11.15pm after shots were fired at a house on this street. Four suspects were said to have then left the scene on the back of two motorbikes.
No injuries were reported to the force following the incident. A 29-year-old man, from Tranmere, was later arrested on suspicion of attempted murder in connection with the attack, although he was subsequently released under investigation pending further enquiries.
Detective Inspector John Mullen, of Merseyside Police's firearms investigation team, said following the shooting: "Our enquiries to establish the full circumstances of this incident are at a very early stage, but we believe it was targeted. What we do know is that the whole community will be saddened to wake up to the news that there has been a shooting on the streets of Moreton, and I am sure they will be keen to help us establish exactly what happened, why and ultimately who was responsible.
"Our officers are working around the clock and will be out talking to the community and gathering information so that the people responsible for this can be brought to justice. Thankfully there have been no reports of any injuries following this shooting, but we all know the risks firing a gun can pose."
Several cordons were set up around Danger Lane in the aftermath, while residents reported hearing "three or four shots" One woman said: "They did sound like fireworks, but they were so loud - I heard the shots and then heard screeching, like someone was getting away."
A man recalled: "It sounded like three bursts. I saw two people get away from the scene and one other person chasing after them with a helmet on."
Neighbours also described how children had been left scared to go outside, with one saying: "There's so many babies who live around here. Anything could have happened.
"My kids don't want to go out anymore, they're scared. My son was panicked and doesn't want to go out."
Another woman stated: "It's not fair we have to live like this. All because of selfish people."
Chapman, of Houghton Road in Woodchurch, was convicted of Elle's murder on July 6, after three hours and 48 minutes of deliberations by a jury. He was also found guilty of attempting to murder Kieran Salkeld and Jake Duffy, wounding with intent against Liam Carr and Harry Loughran, assault occasioning actual bodily harm against Nicholas Speed and possession of a firearm and ammunition with intent to endanger life.
His accomplice Thomas Waring was convicted of possession of a prohibited weapon and assisting an offender. The 20-year-old, of Private Drive in Barnston, was jailed for nine years.
