Police have given updates on the recent shootings which have rocked communities in Merseyside.
In the last month there have been four shootings in Merseyside, one in Wavertree, one in Huyton, one in Aintree and another in Walton. The most recent being on Friday in Wavertree Botanic Gardens.
Merseyside Police received a 999 call just before 6.30pm reporting shots had been fired. The caller told police they believed there was a man in the bushes who had been shot.
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Officers found a teenager with gunshot wounds to his arm and leg at an address on Parton Street, a six minute car journey away. He was taken to hospital by ambulance with his injuries which police described as not life threatening.
The second most recent incident happened on Brookwood Road in Huyton on Tuesday, May 3. Officers were called just after 9.45pm following reports a number of shots had been fired on Brookwood Road and a man had been heard screaming.
When officers arrived at Brookwood Road they found a 37-year-old man, in the front garden of a house, who had suffered gunshot injuries to his leg and foot. It is believed the man had been chased in to the garden by another man, who had then fired shots at him before escaping.
The victim's injuries were described as not life threatening. Then on Sunday, April 30, officers were called at around 5.45pm after reports a person had returned home to find damage to their front door.
Officers attended Stalmine Road and found damage consistent with a shotgun being fired at the property. It is believed the shooting took place some time before police were made aware, around 3am on April 30. There was no-one in the property at the time of the incident.
It is believed four men were seen outside the house when the shots were fired. They then ran towards Stalmine Gardens.
People living on Wyresdale Road, Aintree were also shocked following a shooting. Officers were called to reports a gun was fired at a home at around 12.15am on Saturday, April 22.
Two shots were fired through the front window with what is believed to have been a shotgun. It has been reported that a group of men on electric bikes were in the area at the time and could be involved in the incident.
The ECHO spoke to Andy Ryan, head of investigations at Merseyside Police, earlier this week – before the shooting in Wavertree – about updates on the investigations into the recent shootings.
Speaking on Wyresdale Road he said: "While no one was hurt thankfully, there were people in the front room of that address, covered in glass. We have made four arrests in relation to that and executed a number of warrants in relation to it. Enquiries are ongoing.
"We have those four arrests and people have been released on bail in relation to that investigation at the moment."
For Brookwood Road he said officers executed four warrants in relation to the matter and "made a number of arrests".
DCS Ryan added: "A male was arrested on suspicion of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life. Enquiries are ongoing in relation to that one."
No arrests have been made for the Stalmine Road shooting but "enquiries are ongoing", he said.
DCS Ryan told the ECHO: "It is fair to say that we thoroughly investigate those incidents, so numerous enquiries are ongoing to find those responsible."
The chief superintendent said Merseyside Police have put in place a number of plans to reassure people and communities impacted by gun crime. This included working to find those responsible as quickly as possible and prevention.
He said "We work with criminal justice partners, local authorities and other statutory partners also within Merseyside, we take a very dim view of those people who are willing to use firearms. So we do a great deal.
"We put high visibility patrols into our high crime and high harm areas to ensure that one, we are reassuring people, people know we are in the places that our community wish for us to be. We also gather intelligence and we do respond to each and every bit of intelligence we receive in relation to firearms.
"I think it is also important to note the use of powers to focus our resources in the right areas, so dispersal zones, the use of stop and search."
The head of investigations also said the number of shootings has reduced compared to the same point as last year.
He added: "We had eight firearm discharges this calendar year, that's compared to 16 at the same point last year. While we had 49 firearm discharges or shootings in 2022 and 43 in 2021, those numbers are significantly less to preceding years.
"And here we are in 2023 – and I won't say only eight – but a lot less than we ordinarily have at this stage. So it's encouraging to see the number of shootings in Merseyside remains much lower then when compared to previous years.
"Of course, even though it is much lower, we will relentlessly keep building on this and making sure guns on Merseyside becomes even rarer in future years.
"But let me be really clear on this, one discharge, is one discharge too many in Merseyside. While we can be encouraged by the reductions we are seeing, we will be absolutely relentless in our pursuit of anyone seeks to use firearms for any criminal purpose."
Merseyside Police said information from communities is "absolutely vital" if they are to "target and dismantle organised crime groups".
DCS added: "We need our communities to help and take a stand and make our streets safer. I suppose I would ask, anyone with information about those involved in firearms, serious organised crime or has information about the whereabouts of guns or uses them that they consider contacting Crimestoppers or Merseyside Police."
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