People in Merseyside were horrified after two shootings took place within days of each other.
The first incident happened on Tuesday at around 3pm. Officers were called to a report that a man had been shot in an alleyway on Rosalind Way in Kirkdale. The 21-year-old man was taken to hospital with a gunshot wound to his neck.
His condition was described as serious but not life-threatening. When the ECHO visited the scene at around 9.30pm on Tuesday a huge police cordon covered a large area of empty grassland off Rosalind Way which is behind a number of homes.
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A number of other cordons were also in place at numerous entrances to a large alleyway that sits between Rosalind Way and Olivia Street. One person living in the area said they heard a "bang" but thought it was a "motorbike backfiring". They added "kids were playing out in the street" at the time of the incident.
Police said it was reported two men wearing dark clothing were seen running from the scene towards Westminster Road. At this stage, the shooting is believed to have been targeted, police said.
Chief Inspector Jim Wilde said: “The use of a firearm in a residential street at any time, but especially in the afternoon, is incredibly reckless and dangerous Our officers are currently speaking to potential witnesses in the area and studying CCTV footage for clues as to why this happened, and most importantly who is responsible so they can be brought to justice.
“We’re keen to hear from anyone we have not yet spoken to who witnessed the incident, or saw or heard anyone acting suspiciously in the area around 3pm. You may live nearby or have been passing the area at the time on foot or in a vehicle.
"Any information you have, or dashcam or CCTV footage, could help us find the person who did this and remove them from the streets. Through information provided by our communities and proactive policing operations and tactics, we have seen a decrease in firearms incidents over the past two years.
“We’re determined to keep preventing them from happening so that our communities can continue to live, work and enjoy going out of an evening free from the fear of incidents such as this. If you tell us anything you know about this incident, we will take positive action and make Merseyside safer.”
On Friday, neighbours living on a "quiet estate" said they heard a series of loud bangs as a gunman opened fire at a house. Birch Grove in Wavertree was at the centre of a police investigation after shots were fired at a property while people were inside.
Police were called to the area at around 11.20pm on Thursday where they found damage to the front door of a house which was consistent with a gun being fired. There were no reports of anyone being injured during the shooting, which detectives described as "extremely reckless and dangerous."
One woman, who has lived in the area since the houses were first built over 40 years ago, described it as a "quiet area" where everyone knows everyone. She returned home shortly before midnight on Thursday to find "police everywhere" and a van patrolling the area.
She told the ECHO: "We've all been here since day one so all of our children and grandchildren come on here to play. I was absolutely shocked. You can normally hear a pin drop it's that quiet around here."
Another woman said: "I know you hear people say it on the news but it really is quiet around here. No one is in each other's pockets but everyone is there for each other. You feel safe here."
A number of residents reported hearing a series of loud bangs around the time of the shooting last night. One man said it was around 11pm that he heard "four rapid shots."
Detective Chief Inspector Rachel Wilson said: “Enquiries are in the very early stages as we seek to establish what happened yesterday evening. While no injuries have been reported, to fire a gun is extremely reckless and dangerous
"I would like to reassure the local community that we are working to find those responsible and bring them to justice. I ask that anyone who was in the area of Birch Grove in Wavertree yesterday evening who saw or heard anything or anyone suspicious to contact us.
“Similarly, if you were driving in the Wavertree area last night and have dash cam footage, please check it and let us know if you captured anything significant. Whether you come forward to us directly or anonymously, through Crimestoppers, please tell us what you know to help us remove dangerous weapons and those who use them from our streets.”
If anyone has information on the Kirkdale incident get in contact with reference 544 of 19 April via DM our social media desk on Twitter @MerPolCC or Facebook ‘Merseyside Police Contact Centre’.
For the Wavertree incident, anyone with information is asked to DM @MerPolCC or @CrimestoppersUK anonymously on 0800 555 111 quoting reference 22000274290.
