A man released from prison was shot dead in a "professional execution" compared to the "Wild West" just weeks later.
Blake Brown was killed in what has been described as a professional and sophisticated attack carried out by gunmen who are still on the run seven years later. Brown was released from prison in September 2016 after he served part of a four-and-a-half year sentence for an assault in which he punched a taxi driver after biting into his head.
Five weeks after leaving HMP Liverpool he was shot when two men, both armed with handguns and dressed in black, approached him on Southwood Road, St Michael's, on the night of October 24, 2016. A witness later told police one of the men asked "are you Blake?" and then said "you die" before shooting him three times leaving the 30-year-old with head, arm and buttock injuries.
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He died of his injuries in hospital later that night. A senior barrister later described the shooting as a "professional, planned execution in a quiet suburban road in south Liverpool". He added: "This is not the Wild West. It is your city."
A total of 20 people were arrested during the course of the police's investigation, and one man from Skelmersdale was charged with the conspiracy murder of Brown. However, a jury at Liverpool Crown Court took less than two hours to acquit him. Merseyside Police has today issued a re-appeal for information to help catch Brown's killers.
Detectives investigating the death previously concluded the attack was targeted and "probably gang-related". Brown had a troubled past that included making explosive devices and having links to, and being targeted by, troublemakers in Croxteth. An investigation in 2020 found he had twice been given permission to return to Croxteth, where he grew up, despite police concerns about the consequences.
He was shot the day after the second of those trips. The investigation, carried out by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO), found he was sent to the Southwood Bail Hostel, Aigburth, before checks were made to make sure he would be safe there. It was only after he had arrived that staff were able to confirm no known rival gang members were living there.
Because he was staying at a bail hostel and had been freed just weeks before his murder, an investigation into his death was held by the ombudsman. The probe found the probation service could not have predicted the killing. However, the probation service previously told the ECHO there was no evidence to suggest concerns over the handling of Brown's release were linked to his murder.
Following his release from prison Brown settled back into life on the outside, signing up for a bank account and attending medical appointments for what later turned out to be an epilepsy diagnosis. But he was angry about not getting to see his mum, so arrangements were made through the probation service to see her.
While police had concerns over what Brown would do on his release from prison, those close to him believed he had wanted to put his past behind him. He had successfully completed a course tackling alcohol and drug issues in jail and the PPO report highlighted his focus appeared to be on his family.
Even while he had been in trouble growing up, he is said to have been passionate about trying to make sure younger relatives did not make the mistakes he had. In a statement released on his family's behalf in 2016, they said: "Blake was the heart and soul.
"He was loved by his whole family. Blake was a caring, helpful and charismatic person. This tragedy will have a massive effect, not only on Blake’s family, but everyone who was close to him."
Police investigations have proved fruitless in terms of seeking a conviction for Brown's killers – and seven years on, they remain at large.
Detective Superintendent Sue Coombs said: "Blake’s death caused complete devastation to his family and friends. I know that seven years later, his violent death will still feel as raw as ever to them and I know they have a lot of unanswered questions.
"We have and will act on all information provided to help them see those responsible brought to justice. Someone out there in our communities will know who committed this heinous crime. If you know anything, perhaps something you saw at the time or have heard since, come forward and we will take positive action.
"A long time has passed since Blake’s murder, and we know that allegiances and loyalties can change. If you know something, it’s not too late to do the right thing and come forward. Time is never a barrier to seeking justice and we remain as determined as ever to identify all of those involved.
"Any information will be dealt with sensitively and you can speak to police or anonymously via the charity Crimestoppers, which is completely independent of the police."
Anyone who has any information which could help detectives with their inquiries is asked to contact detectives on 0800 230 0600, contact @MerPolCC, or the Crimestoppers hotline anonymously on 0800 555 111. You can also use their online form at: https://crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information/give-information.
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