CROSSAN MURDER ‘RECKLESS & CALLOUS’
Police appeal for information over shooting
POLICE have described the fatal shooting of a man on Saturday as a “callous and reckless killing”.
Warren Crossan was chased by two masked gunmen in West Belfast who fired a number of shots before fatally wounding the 28-year-old.
The PSNI would not confirm yesterday that they are investigating a possible link to the murder of Dublin gangster Robbie Lawlor in the Ardoyne district in the north of the city.
However, it is believed that is one line of inquiry. Crossan, from the St James’s area of West Belfast, was arrested and questioned about the killing in April.
He was the son of Tommy Crossan, a well-known dissident republican who was shot dead on the Springfield Road in 2014. Speaking yesterday, Detective
Chief Inspector Darren Mccartney said links to organised crime have not been ruled out and it is too early to speculate on a motive.
He added: “We have commenced a murder investigation following the brutal, daylight murder of Warren Crossan yesterday afternoon.
“We believe two masked gunmen chased the victim from the junction of Rodney Parade and St James’s Road along Rodney Parade and St Katharines Road whilst firing a number of shots, fatally wounding him.
“This was a callous and reckless killing. To bring firearms onto a residential street in broad daylight simply beggars belief.
“The gunmen did not give any thought to the risk posed to local people in this community when they ran through the streets firing shots, at least one of which struck a vehicle owned by a resident.
“While it is too early to speculate on a motive for the murder, links to an organised crime element have not been ruled out.
“I am ruling absolutely nothing out at this time but in relation to ongoing investigations and other incidents, I do not want to comment.
“We have investigations ongoing throughout the length and breadth of the country.
“I am not speculating in relation to the motives behind Warren’s murder at this time.”
Chief Insp Mccartney appealed for anyone with information on the fatal attack to come forward to police.
He said: “We know Warren left his home in the Crumlin area shortly before 11am in a dark metallic blue Skoda Octavia.
“Any information you can provide, no matter how trivial, could be important and help us in solving the murder.
“I am aware the area was busy with pedestrians and motorists so I am asking anyone who may have captured any footage of the incident to please make that available to us also. “Anyone with any information or who may be able to help with our investigation is asked to call us on the non-emergency
number 101.”