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The citizens of Liverpool are feeling fear and concern after a single individual shot a gun on their typically peaceful street last night. They believe that gun violence is on the rise in their city.
Residents of Malpas Road in Liverpool shared with The Independent how they took cover in their houses upon hearing multiple gunshots on Wednesday night.
One evening, a frightening event occurred when authorities with weapons arrived at three locations – a newsstand, movie theater, and a property on Malpas Road – after receiving reports of a triple shooting.
The Merseyside police stated that there were no injuries during the three-hour crime incident and that it was not related to terrorism.
Several individuals present at the site of the last shooting were too frightened to disclose their identities, however, they informed The Independent that the area was typically peaceful with no notable activity taking place.
A resident stated, “As I was preparing for bed, I heard three gunshots.”
“It’s quite unsettling because it’s happening right in our neighborhood. This street is typically very calm and quiet, and is known as the most peaceful in the area. So, all of this is extremely unexpected and surprising.”
The surveillance footage from the newsstand suggests that a man wearing a hood was seen holding a significant firearm.
Other residents spoke about the terrifying ordeal and said: “It was at around ten or 11pm and I heard three shots. The first two seemed to be quieter and then the third was louder. It was horrible. Absolutely terrifying. I haven’t even left the house today yet as I’m a nervous wreck and I normally would.”
The gunman appeared on the street approximately two hours after initial reports of him shooting at a newsstand.
The Sangha newsagents on Lower House Lane reported that a man entered the shop at 8pm and threatened the store assistant, demanding money. The man then fired a gun and left without taking anything. Merseyside Police were alerted to the incident.
At 8:50pm, law enforcement was notified of a second incident involving gunfire at Showcase Cinemas on East Lancashire Road. According to reports, a man entered the establishment with a gun and threatened two employees.
After the occurrence, the perpetrator fled the area in a vehicle and the movie theater was secured for approximately 45 minutes.
Around 10:20pm, additional reports were received stating that gunshots had been heard at a residence on Malpas Road.
A resident reported feeling that the street was a tightly-knit community, but expressed fear in leaving her home upon hearing gunshots.
In an interview with The Independent, she stated that they chose not to go outside and participate, believing it was best to remain indoors. Despite their typically friendly neighborhood, everyone has been keeping to themselves today. However, there has still been a noticeable amount of activity on the street.
Witnesses also discussed additional occurrences of firearm-related violence in Liverpool and how it influenced their response.
In December of 2022, Elle Chapman, a 23-year-old beautician, was fatally shot outside a pub on Christmas Eve. This tragedy occurred several months after 28-year-old council worker Ashley Dale was also shot and killed in her backyard in Liverpool.
In August of 2022, Olivia Pratt-Korbel, a nine-year-old, was the victim of a chest gunshot wound at her residence in Dovecot, Liverpool.
In August of 2022, nine-year-old Olivia Pratt Korbel was tragically shot in the chest at her residence in Liverpool. The information was provided by her family through a handout from the PA.
Unfortunately, Olivia lost her life when Joseph Nee, the intended victim of the attack, sought refuge in her home while her mother was investigating the commotion.
Thomas Cashman, the shooter, fired through the door and was eventually found guilty of her killing.
Recalling the event, a resident living on Malpas Road stated, “We chose not to open the door due to our memory of what occurred to that young girl. It was truly frightening and left us feeling powerless.”
When questioned about their perspective on the increase of gun violence in Liverpool, a fellow resident responded: “There is a feeling that the situation is deteriorating, especially when we witness it right outside our own homes. We recognize the need for action, but ultimately, it is beyond our control.”
Other residents also shared this sentiment, stating that further action must be taken to prevent gun violence in the local area.
One resident, who has lived in this area for their whole life, stated that they were not surprised by the event. They have become accustomed to occurrences like this. However, it is clear that action needs to be taken, but what can be done?
A young person riding a bicycle near the newsstand mentioned hearing what they believed to be fireworks at that moment.
A teenage witness at the newsagents near where the initial shots were fired expressed concern about knife crime in the vicinity to The Independent.
Last night, while riding my bike, I heard a noise that sounded similar to fireworks. I considered the possibility of it being New Year’s fireworks or the work of several groups of people.
“I didn’t find out until midnight that there had been a shooting. Gun violence isn’t very prevalent in this area, there are more incidents involving knives, if anything.”
Craig Moorhead, a witness who was at the Showcase cinema with his 14-year-old daughter, reported that a staff member informed him of a man who had allegedly aimed a shotgun at her.
At 8:50pm, the police were notified of a second incident involving gunshots at Showcase Cinemas on East Lancashire Road. It was reported that a man had entered the premises with a firearm and had allegedly threatened two employees.
“He informed the Liverpool Echo that as we exited the movie theater, we witnessed the armed police response team rushing in. The staff was evidently shocked.”
The individual in question, who was detained for alleged possession of a firearm and intent to harm others, has been transported to a police facility in Merseyside and is currently being held in custody.
Chief Constable Jenn Wilson stated that occurrences such as this, where one perpetrator is responsible for three separate shootings in close proximity and rapid succession, are highly uncommon. This marks the first instance of dealing with such an incident on the streets of Merseyside.
The shop assistant, staff at the Showcase Cinema, and filmgoers who were in a lockdown situation after shots were fired outside the cinema, along with the residents of Malpas Road, are likely to have been greatly affected by these incidents.
Source: independent.co.uk
