£25,000 reward to catch Liverpool street shoot-out - 7th Jul 2009 4:01pm
£25,000 reward to catch Liverpool street shoot-out gunmen
A £25,000 reward was put up today after a daylight shoot-out along a Merseyside road.
At around 5.30pm on Saturday, two youths on scrambler bikes were chased along Liverpool Road and then Princess Drive, Huyton.
Shots were fired from a stolen black Audi A3 following the bikes.
And it is believed the riders then fired back.
Terrified members of the public along the half-mile drag phoned 999 as the shots rang out.
Police found casings from two different deadly automatic weapons at scenes on Liverpool Road and nearby Saxby Road.
Now detectives have offered a reward to get the guns off the streets and put those responsible before the courts.
They believe they are looking for six youths.
Temporary Assistant Chief Constable Steve Moore, said: "We are determined to get these weapons and the people involved in this incident off the streets of Merseyside.
"The offenders involved in this incident showed a dangerous disregard for members of the public who were in the area at the time, and it is pure good fortune that no-one was injured as a result of their actions.
"We will not tolerate the use of guns on the streets Merseyside. This Force is committed to tackling guncrime and last year alone we saw offenders involved in firearms incidents on Merseyside sentenced to more than 400 years in prison and firearm discharges reduced by 36%.
"We could not have done this without the help of the public and I would appeal to anyone who has information to come forward.
"We will act on all information received in connection with the use of firearms.
"These weapons don’t fire one bullet per pull of the trigger. They spray bullets out and we have recovered a number of casings.
"The reward is for information leading to the recovery of the weapons and the arrests and successful prosecution of those involved.
"There is no place for violence of this nature on Merseyside and I would urge anyone who has any information to come forward so that the people responsible can be arrested, charged and put before the courts."
The Audi, which was on false registration plates, was recovered after being dumped in a farmer’s field in Melling. It was today being examined by forensic experts.
Police have already arrested and questioned one Huyton youth over the incident.
He has been released on bail.
And today the investigation team raided an address in Woolfall Crescent, Huyton, and recovered a shotgun and cartridges.
Anyone with information should phone police on 0151 777 5699 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
THE ECHO