Police have seized a gun after shots were fired at multiple locations across Liverpool.
A major incident was declared after a single man carried out three shootings at a shop, the Showcase cinema and a property, on Wednesday, January 3. Detectives have confirmed that they have now recovered a firearm, believed to be an assault rifle, from a property on the evening of Thursday, January 4.
A 49 year-old man , from Fazakerley, was arrested on suspicion of possession of a Section 1 firearm with intent to endanger life and robbery. He remains in custody and enquiries remain ongoing. Detectives have confirmed that they are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incidents.
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READ MORE: House cordoned off after shots fired during 'major incident'
Neighbours have told the ECHO the 49-year-old arrested by Merseyside police is Leslie Garrett, from Fazakerley. At 8.30pm on Wednesday, January 3, emergency services were called to reports shots were fired at the Sangha's newsagents, on Lower House Lane. The suspect allegedly threatened the store assistant and demanded cash before firing a gun and leaving the store empty handed.
The shop assistant was not injured during the incident. Later, just before 8.50pm police received a further call to report that shots had been fired outside the Showcase Cinema on Stonedale Retail Park in Croxteth.
It was reported a man armed with a gun entered the cinema complex and threatened two members of staff in the foyer before leaving. When he got outside he fired a number of shots in the air before escaping in a car.
At about 10.20pm further reports were received that gun shots were heard at a property on Malpas Road. No one was injured during each of the incidents. Armed officers quickly carried out a warrant at a property in Fazakerley and arrested a man who is believed to be Leslie Garrett. A cordon was put up around the property while detectives carried out investigations.
A spokesperson for Merseyside police said: "Detectives investigating after shots were fired at three locations in Liverpool on the evening of Wednesday 3rd January have recovered a firearm. The weapon, believed to be an assault rifle, was recovered from a property in the Liverpool area last night.
"It has been forensically recovered and tests will be carried out to establish if it is a viable firearm. A 49 year-old man from the Fazakerley area, arrested on suspicion of possession of a Section 1 firearm with intent to endanger life and robbery, remains in custody and enquiries remain ongoing."
Assistant Chief Constable Jenn Wilson, said: "Thankfully incidents like this, involving a single offender in three separate shootings in close proximity and quick succession, are extremely rare and this is the first time we have had to deal with an incident of this nature on the streets of Merseyside.
"The shocking and distressing impact these incidents will have had on the shop assistant, the staff at the Showcase Cinema and those filmgoers who found themselves in a lockdown situation in the complex after shots were fired outside the cinema and the residents of Malpas Road cannot be underestimated.
"Officers were on the ground immediately following the first incident and were able to respond swiftly to the subsequent discharges, and a male was identified. located and arrested on suspicion of all three discharges within 13 hours. High visibility patrols will remain in the area to reassure members of the local community."
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