Police outside The Lighthouse Inn
(Picture: PA)A murder investigation has been launched after a woman died and multiple people were injured in a shooting near Liverpool on Christmas Eve, police said.
Merseyside Police said officers were called to the Lighthouse Inn in Wallasey Village, Wallasey around 11.50pm on Saturday following reports of gunshots.
A young woman was taken to hospital with an injury consistent with a gunshot wound and later died, police said.
Three men were also taken to hospital with gunshot wounds and a number of others were injured in the incident.
APPEAL | We are appealing for information following the tragic death of a woman in #Wallasey Village last night (Sat 24 December) A murder investigation is underway. Were you there and did you see anything? DM @MerPolCC or @CrimestoppersUK if you can help https://t.co/U745hmTkYo pic.twitter.com/yYKfYsFLK8
— Merseyside Police (@MerseyPolice) December 25, 2022
Detective Superintendent David McCaughrean said: “This investigation is in the very early stages and we understand that this is a truly shocking and devastating incident that has happened just before Christmas Day in a busy venue full of young people.
“We have a number of officers at Wallasey Village who are carrying out extensive enquiries to understand exactly what has taken place and take immediate action.
“A woman has tragically lost her life at Christmas whilst several people are being treated in hospital and our thoughts and condolences are with the victim’s family.
“I would ask anyone who was in the Lighthouse in Wallasey Village last night who witnessed the incident or has mobile or CCTV footage of what happened to contact us as a matter of urgency as they may have information which is vital to our investigation.
“We believe that the gunman left the pub car park in a dark coloured vehicle – possibly a dark coloured Mercedes shortly after the shooting and we are keen to hear from anyone who saw this to contact us immediately.”
Jenny Hough, 77, told of her shock when she heard what had happened at the nearby pub.
She told the PA news agency: “I heard the shots, I thought it was a firework actually because it was nearly midnight.
“I just thought it was people celebrating midnight on Christmas Day.”
On waking to the news of a fatality and multiple injuries, Ms Hough said: “I couldn’t believe it, when I looked outside I thought ‘oh crikey’. It’s a complete shock.
“My sister’s garden had been broken into. We suspect it was people trying to get out of the pub and trying to climb over the wall and into her garden to get out.”
Ms Hough said she had heard the pub was had been “so crowded” that evening.
She described tight security in the area on Christmas Day morning.
She said: “I’ve got people here opening their presents at the moment and they’ve all had to give their names and addresses and everything to the police before they could come in.”
Jeffrey Hughes, minister of the United Reformed Church in Wallasey Village, said the pub is central to the community.
He told the PA news agency: “Wallasey Village is a fairly lively area, it’s a nice part of Wallasey, its a nice part of the north end of the Wirral.
“We’ve got a lot of young people, families in that area. The Lighthouse is central in that community.
“It’s a shock. When we first heard the news this morning that there’d been a shooting in Wallasey, Wallasey Village is the last place you would think of.”
Anyone with information is asked to direct message @MerPolCC or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 quoting log 1044 of Saturday 24 December.
