Man shot dead in Wavertree

Aug 12 2007

Taunton Street shooting

A MURDER investigation has been launched after a 20-year-old man was shot dead as he walked back from a takeaway.

The man was shot in Taunton Street at 10.45pm yesterday, and he died at the scene.

He had been to a local pizza shop at the end of the road and was returning to a friend's house when he was shot. The man, who is believed to be from the Fazakerley area.

Early information given to the police suggests the victim had been out drinking in Wavertree with a friend, before going back to the friend's house.

He then went to a pizza shop in Picton Road before being approaching on Taunton Street by a lone gunman. A number of shots were heard and the victim suffered fatal wounds. He died at the scene.

Forensic examinations were carried out during the day and officers are examining CCTV from the local area. A post mortem has been carried out.

Police said the motive for the murder remains unclear but they believe it was a targeted attack.

Crime scene investigators are at the scene and carrying out forensic examinations while house-to-house inquiries are continuing and police are appealing for any witnesses to come forward.

DCI Ian Mulcahey, said: "We are actively pursuing a number of lines of inquiry and, although we are keeping an open mind in respect of the motive behind the shooting, we do believe that it was targeted.

"The local area will have been busy around that time of the evening and we appealing to anyone who witnessed the incident to come forward. We are also appealing to anyone who may have seen anyone acting suspiciously in the area around Taunton Street and Picton Road around the time of the incident to come forward and help us with our inquiries."

The victim has not yet been formally identified.

DCI Mulcahey added: "Merseyside Police is committed to tackling guncrime. Be assured, we will relentlessly pursue those responsible for taking to the streets with firearms. It will not be tolerated and our specialist Matrix team is actively disrupting the activities of those involved in gang and gun-related crime. We will continue to robustly investigate those involved in such criminality and put them before the courts."

Anyone with information which could help the police with their inquiries regarding this incident can contact Merseyside Police on 0800 230 0600, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Alternatively you can text the word Crime to 61051 followed by the information, or e-mail the Murder Investigation Team at murder@merseyside.police.uk