Man shot down in gangland execution

Aug 13 2007 by David Bartlett, Liverpool Daily Post

A 20-YEAR-OLD man was shot in the head and chest at point-blank range in an apparent gangland assassination in Liverpool.

Ryan Wooley was gunned down in Taunton Street, off Picton Road, Wavertree, oppo- site Heygreen Primary School, at about 10.45pm on Saturday.

Last night, police said they believed the victim was the subject of a targeted hit, but were unclear of the motive and a number of lines of inquiry were being pursued.

The man from Fazakerley was returning to his friend’s house with two pizzas from Prime Pizza, Picton Road when he was shot at close range by a lone gunman.

Police said they believed four or five shots were fired at the man who died about 25 yards from his friend’s home.

The pair had been out drinking in Wavertree prior to the shooting. The road was cordoned off yesterday as police carried out forensic and ballistic investigations.

CCTV from the area is being studied and police have appealed for witnesses.

Detective Chief Superin- tendent Peter Currie said: “He went down to the pizza shop and was in there for between 15 and 20 minutes and was making his way back.

“It’s believed that it was a lone gunman that shot him on the pavement about 25 yards before the friend’s house.”

The gunman is believed to have made off on foot, but police said it was not known if a getaway car was involved.

“This is a quiet street in a residential area. It does not seem like a random attack,” added DCI Currie. “Because it was such close range, you would expect they had chosen who they attacked.” He said it was likely between four and five shots had been fired.

“I would reassure the local community that we are carrying out extensive inquiries into this incident.

“Those who carry firearms on our streets to threaten, to intimidate and to settle their disputes should understand that we will be relentless in our pursuit of offenders.”

It is the sixth fatal shooting in the city since July, 2006, in- cluding the high-profile assas- sination of one of Liverpool’s most high-ranking gangsters, Michael “Mikey” Wright.

Wright, from Kirkdale, was shot in December as he sat in his Volkswagen Golf in the car park of the Stonedale retail park on the East Lanca- shire Road, near the Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant and Showcase Cinema.

Anyone with information about Saturday’s attack should call 0800 230 0600 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Alternatively, emails can be sent to murder@mersey side.police.uk or text messages to 61051 with “crime” as the first word.

IN A separate incident, an adult male was being treated in hospital early today after being shot in the leg at Woodfarm Hey, Stockbridge Village, at 11.15pm last night.

OPINION: PAGE 10

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