PLAYGROUND GUN DEATH
23-YEAR-OLD DIES AFTER BLOODY RAMPAGE
Kids’ terror as shots ring out in summer sun
A MURDER hunt has been launched after the death of a man shot in a bloodbath gun fight beside a kids playground. Children looked on in horror as the victim, named locally as 23-year-old Jamie Lee, was fatally wounded. He died in hospital last night. Another
man who was shot is aged 25 and was in a stable condition after the incident on Saturday.
Cops opened a murder probe into Jamie’s death and are treating the attack on the other man as attempted murder.
Eyewitnesses say the children’s playpark, in Glasgow’s Castlemilk, turned to a scene of carnage.
The two feuding groups, armed with guns and other weapons, set about each other on Ballantay Quadrant and Hoddam Avenue – just a few hundred yards from posh, fee-paying Fernhill School – at about 8pm.
The rampage then spilled into a nearby cul-de-sac, Ballantay Terrace.
Jamie was left covered in blood along with the other shooting victim, while four men were rushed to hospital and treated for less serious injuries.
The summer sunshine meant the playpark at Ballantay Terrace was full of children at the time of the attack.
One resident told the Daily Record: “This is like something out of the wild west – with two gangs fighting it out in broad daylight.
“It’s absolutely sickening that kids have been forced to witness this kind of violence.
“People are terrified to let their children play in the street.”
The park, which has a slide and a climbing frame, is separated from the street by a small fence.
Another parent said: “When your children are playing at a wee play area a few feet away in the cul-de-sac, you expect them to be totally safe.
“It does not bear thinking about what could have happened.”
Yesterday, police forensic specialists were carrying out a detailed search of the area.
They extended their cordon to include the whole of Ballantay Terrace.
A spokesman said last night: “A murder inquiry is under way after a man who was seriously injured in a large scale disturbance in the Castlemilk area of Glasgow died a short time ago in the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.
“Four other men have since been released from hospital while a 25-year-old remains in a serious condition.
“Two of the men had injuries consistent with a firearm having been used.
“Police do not believe that this particular incident is linked to any other incidents that have occurred in the Glasgow area over the last few months or any other ongoing police investigations.
“There is also nothing at this time to suggest that the incident is racially motivated.” Officers are appealing for witnesses and have stepped up patrols in the area.
Detective Chief Inspector Martin Fergus said: “I understand that local people in the area are very concerned about this level of violence taking place in broad daylight on their streets.
“I’d like to reassure them that we are doing everything that we can to track down everyone involved in this incident.
“Many people would have seen what happened and we ask that they come forward and support us in our investigation.
“We will have extra patrols in the area for the foreseeable future.”
Local people yesterday told of officers arriving on the scene on Saturday night.
Some of those injured in the mayhem are said to be from the same family.
It is thought members of Jamie’s family were among those wounded.
His father, Joseph, is believed to be one of those taken to hospital.
Sources say the fight was linked to an ongoing feud. One neighbour said: “One of the families involved in this has been here for decades. “The Lees are well known in the area, because it is a very large extended family. “I’ve no idea what brought this about.” Another added: “This is some kind of feud between families. “The incident was so bad a lot of local people were convinced that someone had died in the street. “This level of violence is a big worry.” A woman, who did not want to be named, said: “Some kind of vendetta has been going on for a long time now. The bad blood is between two families. “I don’t know what it is about and I don’t want to know. “I heard shouts in the street involving a lot of people. “I just made sure my kids were inside and the doors were locked. “Then the street was covered by
police vehicles. I saw ambulances as well.”
There was still a huge police presence in the area yesterday, with two police cars, a police van and a mobile support unit at the scene.
Police officers stood guard at the spot, which was sealed off.
An area of open ground to the rear of the properties was taped off.
One resident said: “I’m new to this area so I don’t know any of the background to this.
“It is frightening that this sort of thing can go on.
“I was sleeping until I heard sirens and the next thing I knew there were police cars, vans and ambulances.
“I’ve been told that people were attacked by a gang with machetes.
“Another neighbour told me that someone had been shot.”
It is the second major violent incident in Castlemilk in the space of a few days, after a man was run over by a car, chased and then stabbed late last month.
Horrified children looked on as the 23-year-old victim was targeted in broad daylight as he walked along Ardencraig Drive in Castlemilk. Police said he was deliberately hit by a Mercedes but managed to get up and run into nearby Ardencraig Quadrant – just half a mile from where the weekend gun battle took place.
The front-seat passenger gave chase down the dead-end street before stabbing the victim.
He was taken to the city’s Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.
In the aftermath of that attack, staff described his condition as stable.
Detective Inspector Stevie Watson urged anyone who witnessed the attack, which happened about 4.25pm on June 28, to come forward.
He said: “Ardencraig Drive and Quadrant are both residential and there were a number of people, including children, in the area at the time of the attack.
“There were others in the immediate area that could have been injured or worse due to the actions of these men.”
No one has so far been arrested in connection with the attack.