A third shooting in one month in Merseyside has sent shockwaves across the region.
The most recent incident happened on Sunday at around 7.15pm when a man was shot multiple times in the legs as he walked on a street in Croxteth. The 23 year-old man was in Cubert Road when an unknown offender is reported to have fired shots in his direction, hitting him multiple times in the legs.
It is thought the offender may have been on a pedal cycle which made towards Croxteth Hall Lane. The man remains in hospital where he is being treated for his injuries, which are not believed to be life threatening.
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An investigation is underway and forensic, house-to-house and CCTV enquires have been carried out in the local area. Detective Inspector John Mullen said: “We are continuing to appeal for witnesses or anyone with information about this incident to come forward.
“We know the impact reckless incidents like this have on our communities but we believe that members of the public are also key to solving this and taking criminals off our streets. If you have information about who was responsible for last night’s shooting, or know anyone who carries, stores or uses firearms, then please contact us so that we can take positive action.
“I would continue to appeal to anyone living in the area of Cubert Road who saw anyone or anything suspicious or captured anything significant on their dash cam, doorbell camera or mobile phone to contact us as soon as possible.”
Sunday's incident is the third shooting in a month. Many people on social media were shocked by another report of gun crime in the city.
Writing on the ECHO's Facebook page, Mark Butler said: "This isn't the Liverpool I used to know." Gary Keelor added: "Almost a stabbing or shooting every couple of days in Liverpool. Crazy place. It never ends."
Sheila Teasdale also said: "Oh my word. What is happening with all the stabbing and shootings why?" Laura Hensby said: "It’s getting worse."
The second incident happened on Saturday, July 2 where a gunman opened fire on a 23-year-old man in a pedestrianised area between Croxdale Road West and Croxdale Road, West Derby. Mobile phone footage captured by a bystander appeared to show a man standing over the victim with a handgun before seven loud bangs are heard in quick succession.
The victim survived but sustained multiple gunshot wounds to his legs and back. He is now in a serious but stable condition in hospital. Police said the gunman fled the scene in a white Seat Leon car.
Residents rushed out to help the stricken victim, with further mobile phone footage showing a woman and a man applying pressure to bullet wounds while others comforted him. The victim was taken to hospital in a car by local residents, who dropped him off at A&E before leaving the scene.
A 62-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender, but has since been released without charge. Detective Inspector John Mullen from Merseyside Police's Firearms Investigation Team, said: “Our extensive enquiries continue into a shooting this weekend which left a man injured. While, fortunately, the victim is recovering from his injuries, this does not lessen the shock that the community will have experienced at a firearm being used on a residential street in broad daylight.
“Rest assured, we are pursuing multiple lines of enquiry to bring those responsible to justice and I would urge anyone with any information to come forward. Our officers will be out on patrol in the Croxdale Road West area in the coming days so if you saw anything on Saturday afternoon, however insignificant it may seem, please come and let us know.
“Through information provided by our communities and proactive policing operations and tactics, we have seen a decrease in firearms incidents over the past two years. We’re determined to keep preventing them from happening so that our communities can continue to live, work and enjoy going out free from the fear of incidents such as this.
“If you know anything, please tell us, either directly or anonymously, so we can take positive action and make Merseyside safer.”
A third shooting incident also happened this month. At around 10.30pm on Tuesday, June 21, police received a report shots had been fired in the Everton Brow area of Everton. It was further reported that an injured man had been sighted.
Shortly after this, at around 10.45pm it was further reported that a 16-year-old boy self-presented at the Royal Liverpool Hospital with gunshot wounds. It was reported that he was dropped off at hospital on an electric bike, which made off down Prescot Road.
The victim was said to have serious injuries. In a most recent update, police said they were looking to trace a red white and blue motocross bike, reported in the Everton Brow area at the time of the incident. Detective Chief Inspector Rachel Wilson said at the time: “The investigation is in its early stages and we are working tirelessly to establish the full circumstances of a shooting last night which left a male injured.
“Fortunately the man has not suffered life-threatening injuries and at this stage we believe that this was a targeted attack with no wider threat to the local community. Nonetheless, this would have been an extremely shocking incident for anyone to witness.
"We have a large police presence in the area carrying out inquiries and I would encourage people to come forward and tell us what they know. We have increased patrols in the area following the incident and crime scene investigations are being carried out. Officers will also be reviewing CCTV footage and are conducting house-to-house enquiries in the area in a bid to identify offenders
“Our enquiries so far have shown that a red, white and blue motocross bike was being ridden in the Everton Brow area and an electric bike was sighted on Prescot Road at the time of the incident. If you were driving in the Everton Road or Prescot Road areas last night and have dashcam footage then please review it and if you saw either of these bikes then let us know.
“Similarly, would ask anyone who was in the area, who may have seen anyone acting suspiciously to contact us. I would also urge anyone in the area who thinks they may have captured anything significant on their mobile phone or Ring doorbell to contact us as a matter of urgency as footage they have could be vital to our investigation.
“There is no room for guns on the streets of Merseyside and we will do everything within our power to ensure those responsible are brought to justice.”
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