Second man blasted in leg by balaclava-clad gunmen
A SECOND person was shot during the execution-style killing of Luke Graham in Ashton, police have revealed.
Witnesses to the terrifying incident said the 31-year-old father was blasted by masked men as he sat in a van in Birch Street at around 5pm.
Another man was shot in the leg as he ran from the vehicle, residents said.
The man, who is in his 20s, continued running as he was chased, but later went to hospital.
Police said he was in a stable condition last night.
Armed officers executed a series of warrants late on Wednesday. Two men, aged 29 and 32, were detained on suspicion of murder. A third man was arrested on suspicion of murder yesterday morning. All three remained in custody for questioning last night.
Det Chief Insp Alan Clitherow said: “We have a team of dedicated detectives, firearms officers and crime scene investigators that have worked tirelessly gathering key information.
“We now have three men in custody all arrested on suspicion of murder, but our investigation is very much ongoing and there are several property searches taking place across Greater Manchester.”
A witness to the shooting said: “We were just sat here and we saw the guys put the balaclavas up. It was sickening.
“There were about four or five shots, then the other guy, the driver tried to run off and they actually ran after him, shooting.”
A mother who lives on the street said she saw a silver Audi park on nearby Mansfield Street before two men wearing balaclavas and gloves, holding handguns, went into a house.
There was ‘a bit of a kerfuffle inside’, the woman said, before the gunmen came outside and saw the van.
“They ran out, opened the door and it was bang, bang, bang,” said the witness, who asked not to be named.
Forensic officers combed the scene, picking up at least four or five bullet casings from the road.
Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.