A resident discovered a neighbour dead outside his home following a shocking gun-and-acid attack, it has emerged.
Company director Liam Smith, a 38-year-old father-of-two, was shot and doused in acid in the village of Shevington, Wigan, last Thursday night (November 24).
Police have confirmed he was discovered by a member of the public - a neighbour who emerged from his home and found Mr Smith on the pavement a short distance away from his own home.
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The victim was attacked where he was discovered, police have confirmed.
Mr Smith's body was discovered opposite the home of another resident, Trevor Anders, 81, who was out at the time, but came home to discover Kilburn Drive had been cordoned off.
He had to spend the next four nights at his sister's home as the front of his home was cordoned off as a crime scene.
"It was shocking really, a big shock," said Mr Anders, a retired battery firm rep.
He added: "At first I thought it was somebody from the estate. I never dreamt it could be Liam. Everybody here thought it was me because obviously I wasn't here and they hadn't seen me taking the dog out.
"I got to know Liam because he loved the dog, Buster, who was always going into his garden and playing with the kids. I wouldn't say I knew him well, but I would always talk to him over the back. He had trouble with the brambles and I cut them back.
"This has really upset me."
Another neighbour, who asked not to be named, said: "He was a nice lad. We heard a bang and to be honest we thought it was a dust bin. We never thought anything of it. It's not something you expect in a place like Standish. These things happen in the big city, but a murder on your doorstep?"
Mr Smith, an electrician former soldier, was a director of LPS Electrical and Build Ltd which went into liquidation earlier this year.
According to Companies House, LPS Electrical and Build Ltd appointed a liquidator on May 25. Mr Smith remained the company's sole director.
Paying tribute to him earlier this week, Mr Smith's family said in a brief statement: "Liam was kind hearted, funny, the life and soul of the party. He was the most devoted dad, much loved son, brother, grandson and uncle. He will sorely be missed by all who knew and loved him."
Detective Chief Inspector Gina Brennand from GMP’s Major Incident Team, who is leading the investigation, said: "This is a shocking murder of a much-loved family man.
"I have a team of detectives working around the clock and I urge anyone who has seen anything unusual or out of the ordinary near to the victim’s home during the day and early evening of Thursday, November 24, to contact the Major Incident Room.
"This is the first fatal shooting in the Manchester area for over two years and we are determined to recover the weapon and find Liam’s killer."
Any information can be given to GMP via the LiveChat function on gmp.police.uk or by calling 101, quoting incident number 910 of November 25, 2022.
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