A mother screamed at her children to ‘get on the floor’ as gunshots rang out yesterday in a fatal shooting in a quiet residential street in Liverpool.
A 36-year-old man was shot dead in ‘appalling and tragic incident’ on Quarryside Drive, Kirkby around 6.35pm on Wednesday, Merseyside Police said.
He was treated at the scene by emergency responders and transported to hospital, where he died shortly after. His next of kin have been informed and will be supported by specialist family liaison officers.
A mother of two, who lived next door to the victim, was out in the garden before making her way back into the home only to hear the moment the bullets were fired.
She told the Liverpool Echo she told her children to ‘get down on the floor’ before she grabbed hold of her daughter and left the house.
‘I was out doing jobs in the garden,’ she said before describing the distressing moment she first heard gunshots.
‘Then I went back in the house and the next minute, I heard loads of loud bangs. I knew what it was. So I told my kids to get down on the floor. I just wanted to make sure they were okay. Then I took my daughter and got out of the house.’
A 36-year-old man has been shot dead in the quiet Liverpool suburb of Kirkby this evening, sparking fears from locals over ‘gun crime’ in the area
A 36-year-old man, who has not yet been named, was shot on Quarryside Drive, Kirby around 6.35pm on Wednesday
Police swarmed to the area last night with photographs showing officers guarding a cordon.
Murder detectives are currently in the early stages of their investigation as they scour CCTV and make house-to-house enquiries to try and piece together what happened and who was involved.
A heavy police presence and cordon remain in place at the scene as crime scene investigators are carry out their forensic examinations.
The shooting has prompted concern amongst locals, with one claiming they are ‘afraid to walk out alone’ and another alleging violence in the community has them ‘wanting to move’.
Merseyside Police launched a murder investigation, which they say ‘still in the very early stages’, after the victim was shot yesterday evening.
They have appealed for any witnesses to come forward and asked residents to check their CCTVs, doorbell cameras and dashcams for any footage that could help with their investigation.
Last night, Detective Superintendent Mark Dew said: ‘A murder investigation is underway this evening following an appalling and tragic incident in which a man has lost his life after he was fatally shot.
‘Our thoughts first and foremost are with his family, who are trying to come to terms with his loss.’
The victim was treated at the scene by emergency responders and transported to hospital, where he died shortly after. His next of kin have been informed and will be supported by specialist family liaison officers
Meanwhile, locals say the act of violence has left them feeling very afraid.
One resident told The Liverpool Echo: ‘What I’m fearful of is that there are always kids out in the street. I feel sorry for the community. Every one of us is afraid to walk out alone.’
Another resident, who has been living in Kirkby for three years and ‘seen it all’, said it is a ‘good community’ but has questioned: ‘Why should everyone live in fear? I’ve been wanting to move because of it.’
Det Supt Drew also slammed the violence in the area, saying there is ‘no room for guns on the streets of Merseyside’ and vowed to ‘do everything within our power to ensure those responsible are brought to justice’.
‘My message to those involved in gun crime and serious organised crime is clear – Merseyside Police will never rest, we are relentless in our pursuit of those involved,’ he said.
‘Information from the public is vital if we are to breakdown the organised crime groups who bring misery to our streets and I would appeal to anyone who has information to come forward.
He continued: ‘I completely understand that speaking up could be daunting, but when people are willing to support the police we will ensure every possible avenue is progressed to protect them.’
Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call 101 or DM the force at @MerPolCC on social media, quoting log number 830 of 17.
Det Supt Drew noted that those who do not feel comfortable contacting the force directly can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
‘We need to know who is involved in gun crime and where those guns are being stored,’ he added.
