Three are arrested after man shot in leg
POLICE investigating the attempted murder of a man blasted with a shotgun have found the weapon dumped in open land.
Officers carried out searches throughout Tuesday and found the shotgun in land off Stannought Road. A police presence is expected to remain in the area over the coming days as investigations continue.
The searches come after a man in his 20s was found by police with a wounded leg on Ennerdale shortly after a gunshot was heard at around 9.30pm on September 6. He was taken to hospital for treatment but did not suffer life-threatening injuries.
Three men have so far been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder but all have been released on bail and police are continuing to ask for the public to help with the investigation.
Two of the men, aged 20 and 36 and from Skelmersdale, were arrested early last week and have since been released on bail until October 6.
A 27-year-old, also from Skelmersdale, was then arrested last Wednesday, three days after the victim was shot. He has now also been released on bail until October.
Detectives are continuing to appeal for information and are asking anybody who witnessed the incident or knows who may be responsible to get in touch as soon as possible.
DCI Zoe Russo, of Lancashire’s Force Major Investigation Team, said: “We appreciate this will have caused concern in the community but we would like to reassure people that our investigation is very much ongoing.
“We are continuing to ask anybody with information about the incident to get in touch with us as soon as possible. Perhaps you were in the area and saw all or part of what happened, or perhaps you have heard something and believe you know who may be responsible.
“Whatever information you have we would urge you to get in touch with us.”
Anybody with information is asked to get in touch on 101, quoting log number 1589 of September 6. Alternatively independent charity Crimestoppers can be contacted on 0800 555 111 or at crimestoppers-uk.org.