Communities are in disbelief after three stabbings and one shooting in Merseyside in just 48 hours.
Families across the region were torn apart as a man and a women were found dead in their own homes in the space of 48 hours following violet attacks. The first incident took place on Sunday, October 30 when police rushed to a house on Meadowbrook Road in Moreton, Wirral, at around 1.45am following reports of a shooting.
Jackie Rutter, 53 and a grandmother of five, was shot in the chest in the doorway of her Meadowbrook Road home at around 1.45am on October 30, in what police described as a "targeted attack."
READ MORE: Police raid south Liverpool home and arrest woman on suspicion of misconduct in public office
A second incident saw police scramble to Bridge Road in Litherland after reports of a man being stabbed in the chest. The victim was rushed to hospital with a life-threatening injury at around 4.45am and died later that day.
A 42-year-old woman, from Litherland, has been arrested on suspicion of murder and is being questioned by police. Later on Sunday, at around 4.35pm police were scrambled following reports of a teenager being stabbed on Devon Gardens, off Old Chester Road in Rock Ferry.
The 19-year-old man took himself to hospital after being stabbed during the attack. People who live in the surrounding area reported seeing sniffer dogs and forensic officers searching for a weapon in the hours after the stabbing.
A fourth incident saw a woman be rushed to hospital after being stabbed on South Boundary Road, near Knowsley Industrial Park, on Monday, October 31. The stabbing took place at around 8.20am and the woman suffered a stab wound to her back.
Officers later arrested a 62-year-old man on suspicion of attempted murder.
Meadowbrook Road - Moreton
Officers are appealing for anyone who witnessed the incident or who saw a dark coloured vehicle, containing up to three individuals, in the area of Meadowbrook Road at the time of the shooting to come forward. The suspicious car was later found burnt out on Garden Hey Road.
Detectives are keen to trace its movements both before and after the incident.
Detective Chief Inspector Steve McGrath said: "This is clearly a very shocking and upsetting incident and are thoughts are with the family and friends of the woman who died. At this stage we are treating this as a targeted incident and a number of lines of enquiry are being carried out.
"We are keen to trace the occupants of the vehicle as we believe they may have information which is vital to our investigation. I would ask anyone who saw the vehicle in the area or thinks they captured it on dash cam, CCTV or mobile phone to contact us as a matter of urgency.
"I would also appeal for anyone who was in the area who saw anybody or anything suspicious to get in touch. Guns have no place on the streets of Merseyside.
"We have too often seen the devastation they cause to families and communities and we will do everything within our powers to find the people responsible and bring them to justice. Anyone with information is asked to DM @MerPolCC or contact @CrimestoppersUK on 0800 555 111 quoting reference 22000796038."
Bridge Lane - Litherland
Witnesses, CCTV and house-to-house inquiries are currently being conducted in the area.
Detective Chief Inspector Matt Caton said: “This was a tragic incident in which a man has sadly lost his life. An investigation is now underway, which is in the very early stages as we seek to establish what has happened which has led to this tragic incident.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact Merseyside Police social media desk via Twitter @MerPolCC or Facebook Merseyside Police CC. You can also call 101 quoting incident reference 242 of 30 October.
You can also pass information via the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously, on 0800 555 111 or via their online form at: https://crimestoppers-uk.org
Devon Gardens - Rock Ferry
Merseyside Police confirmed it had launched an investigation into the stabbing. CCTV, forensic and witness enquiries are being carried out in the local area.
A spokesperson for Merseyside Police told the ECHO: "We have launched an investigation following reports a 19-year-old man was stabbed in Wirral. The teenager self-presented at hospital with an injury to his body at around 4.35pm yesterday, Sunday, October 30.
"His injury is not believed to be life threatening. It is believed he was assaulted in Devon Gardens, Old Chester Road, Rock Ferry earlier in the day. An investigation is underway and CCTV, forensic and witness enquiries are being carried out in the local area.
"Anyone who can assist with the investigation is asked to DM @MerPolCC or contact @CrimestoppersUK on 0800 555 111 quoting reference 22000797349."
Knowsley Industrial Park - Kirkby
A police scene was in place and officers are carrying out CCTV and witness enquiries.
Merseyside Police said: "We can confirm that emergency services are on South Boundary Road in Knowsley following a stabbing in the area this morning. At around 8.20am officers received a report that a woman had been stabbed by a man on Knowsley Industrial Park.
"Emergency services attended and the woman has been taken to hospital to be treated for stab wounds to her back. A 62-year-old man from Liverpool was later arrested on suspicion of attempted murder in the area.
"A police scene is in place on South Boundary Road while enquiries are carried out and motorists and members of the public are advised to avoid the area."
Anyone who witnessed the incident or with any information, is asked to contact police by direct message on Twitter at @MerPolCC or @CrimestoppersUK on 0800 555 111 quoting reference 158 of 31 October.
READ NEXT:
Woman stabbed as man arrested on suspicion of attempted murder
Suspicious car found burnt out after woman, 53, shot dead
'Beautiful' woman shot dead named locally as tributes pour in
