Shooting may be linked to murder
THE shooting of a man as he was sat in his car may be linked to the murder of Billy Livesley.
The M.E.N understands that is one line of inquiry after the attack in Bickershaw Lane, Abram, Wigan, left the victim, in his 50s, with life-threatening injuries.
The victim has serious injuries to his arm after being blasted through a window as he sat in a stationary Range Rover.
The gunman is believed to have pulled alongside in a black Audi and opened fire with a shotgun.
Mr Livesley, 21, died after being hit on the head with a crowbar by David Connors on a car park off Bickershaw Lane on December 28 last year.
Connors, 24, was jailed for life at Manchester Crown Court.
His brother, Peter Connors, 32, was found not guilty of murder and manslaughter.
Another man, Jimmy Price, 22, a childhood friend of Mr Livesley, was jailed for 18 months for perverting the course of justice.
The judge said the reason why David Connors attacked Mr Livesley ‘never emerged with clarity’ during the trial.
After the latest shooting, at about 4.20pm on Thursday, Inspector Mark Ainscough, of GMP’s Wigan district, said: “The man’s injuries are believed to be life-threatening, and now that he is receiving medical treatment, our priority is to find those responsible for this shooting.
“I can appreciate that incidents such as this will cause a lot of concern in the community but I would like to reassure the public that we have launched a full investigation into what happened.
“A scene will remain in place as our officers continue their enquiries.
“I am appealing for the public’s help to gather more information and need people who saw what happened to come forward.”
Thursday’s shooting was directly opposite where Mr Livesley was murdered.
GMP sources say the incident is not being linked to two shootings within 10 minutes in Wigan two weeks ago - both nearby.
A gunman opened fire at a house in Vicarage Road, Abram, at 12.15am on Thursday, September 12.
No one was hurt.
Minutes later a woman was shot twice in the back through a window of her home in Redland Court, in Bamfurlong.
A 44-year-old man was later arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, then released under investigation.