Continued appeal for information following two shootings in Knowsley

We continue to appeal for information following two shootings in Prescot and Huyton yesterday, Tuesday 15 August.

The first incident occurred at around 1.25pm on Paxton Road, in Huyton, when a firearm was discharged at a house. There was no damage caused to any properties and no reported injuries.

Around 25 minutes later, there was a second reported incident on Shaw Lane, in Prescot, when further shots were fired. Damage was caused to two properties, but there were no reported injuries.

Two males were seen on a motorbike on both streets prior to the shootings and we believe that the incidents are linked.

At around 4.20pm, five men were arrested on Freckleton Road, in the Grange Park area of St Helens, in connection to the firearm discharges.

The men, aged 20, 19, 25, 19 and 25, who are all from the Huyton and Kirkby areas, were all arrested on suspicion of possession of a firearm and remain in police custody. A firearm has not been found at this stage, but enquiries are ongoing.

Detective Chief Inspector Paul McVeigh said: “Although we have made five arrests following the reported shootings yesterday, we are still appealing for information as we continue with the early stages of the investigation.

“To open fire in residential areas in the middle of the day is extremely reckless and will not be tolerated in Merseyside. Our enquiries are ongoing and if you live in any of the affected areas and saw anything, please let us know. Please also check your CCTV or dashcam footage to see if you captured anything suspicious that could help our ongoing investigation.”

Superintendent for Knowsley Karl Baldwin added: “I understand the concern that gun crime causes, particularly during such a poignant week when we mark the one-year anniversaries of the murders of Sam Rimmer, Ashley Dale and Olivia Pratt-Korbel.

“We have all seen the devastation that gun crime can bring to innocent families and how lives can be shattered by gun violence.

“We are determined to take guns off the streets of Merseyside and will relentlessly pursue anyone we suspect of being involved in gun crime.

“We will use all the tools at our disposal to pursue those responsible, such as the Section 60 Order that was implemented last night (Tuesday 15 August) to give officers extra powers in the area to stop further violent crime.

“Although these latest incidents will cause concern, there has been a significant drop in the number of firearm discharges in Merseyside this year.

“To highlight this, in January this year we had zero discharges, which is the first time ever in Merseyside that there wasn’t a shooting across a whole month. This was then repeated for a second month in June.

“The gun crime statistics for Knowsley are just as encouraging. In 2021 there were 13 firearm discharges, compared with four last year.

“Although these statistics are positive, every time a gun is fired in our communities it puts innocent people at risk. Help us stop another tragedy.

“Those that use firearms, or participate in gang violence, are a blight on our community. They cause misery and have no respect for the innocent people they put in harm’s way.

“We will act on any information that you provide. If you have any information about the incidents on Paxton Road or Shaw Lane, please come forward.”

If you have any CCTV, dashcam or doorbell footage, or any information about this incident please DM our social media desk on Twitter @Merseypolice, or Facebook 'Merseyside Police Contact Centre' quoting reference 23000756551. Alternatively you can call the independent @CrimestoppersUK hotline anonymously on 0800 555 111.