Street shooting horror
RESIDENTS SPEAK OF HORROR AS ARMED POLICE SWOOP TO SCENE OF SHOOTING
POLICE have been trawling a street in north Manchester after a man was shot.
Officers were called to Mansfield Avenue in Blackley at around 7.50pm on Tuesday following reports a gunman had opened fired inside a house.
A 22-year-old man was found with ‘serious’ leg injuries and was taken to hospital. Cops have described the shooting as ‘vicious’.
The man’s injuries are not thought to be life-threatening. He was described as being in a ‘stable’ condition. Armed officers were seen guarding the scene through the night and into the following morning. A large police cordon remained in place on Mansfield Avenue, as well as parts of nearby Mansfield Road and Mansfield Drive.
A small alleyway was also blocked off.
No damage could be seen to the exterior of the property where the shooting is said to have taken place.
Forensics officers in white suits were seen going in and out of the house while officers from GMP’s Specialist Operations Branch were seen scouring the street for clues. No arrests have been made. Detectives say they believe it was an ‘isolated incident’. Patrols have been stepped up in the area. Residents spoke of their shock. “I’ve never seen anything like it,” one person told the M.E.N.
“You never think something like this would happen in your own back yard.
“The cordon was up all night and all morning, armed police were everywhere. It was quite scary.”
Another person said: “I didn’t see anything last night, but for there to be so many police cars it must have been quite serious. The police told me it was likely to be a targeted attack, rather than something random.”
Officers are urging anyone with information to come forward.
Detective Inspector Louise Edwards, of the City of Manchester division, said: “This was a vicious attack which has left a man in hospital with serious injuries.
“I would like to reassure the community that this is believed to be an isolated incident.
“Residents will see an increased police presence in the area as our officers investigate the full circumstances behind this incident and locate those responsible.”
● Call police on 0161 856 1146, quoting incident number 2224 of January 1, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.