Hunt goes on for play park killer
Jamie Lee dies after being shot in Castlemilk battle
Parents of children who may have witnessed a murder in Castlemilk are too scared to speak to police, according to residents.
Eight kids were believed to be in a play park near Ballantay Terrace on Saturday when Jamie Lee, 22, was shot during a gun and machete fight between rival gangs.
Police Scotland has appealed for witnesses of any age to come forward to help snare the killers.
But according to one resident, people in the scheme are “absolutely terrified for their kids.”
He added: “When the children are out in a play area at a cul-de-sac you tend to assume they are safe.
“A lot of the children come to the play park from the surrounding area because it is safe.
“This extreme violence has shattered everyone here.
“There are children speaking about seeing guns and machetes and people lying on the ground.
“Those who are responsible for this have not been arrested yet.
“People just want to make sure their kids are safe.
“Some people feel their kids have been through enough and just want to draw a line under it.
“They don’t want to speak about it, and they do not want the spotlight shone on their children by speaking to the press, which would then mean they would have to speak to the police.”
Jamie suffered a gunshot wound and died within hours in hospital. He and fiancée Laura Ward had become parents just three weeks ago.
Detective Superintendent Allan Burton said:”There were a number of people there, including some children, who had run off from the play park at the commencement of this incident.
“We would urge them to come forward.
“We are aware from witness statements that the two groups came together for a stand-up fight, where they targeted individuals within both groups.
“Some had been armed with weapons.
“One has been armed with a firearm which has been discharged and has caused injury to the deceased and also caused injury to a 62-year-old male, who was also shot during this incident.
“My obvious concern is that there were unrelated persons within this vicinity, including children who were in the play park prior to this and they may have been affected by this.”
“We have spoken to residents who told us they heard children running from the scene.
“We have not yet identified who these children are.
“We believe there are people who hold crucial information from within that play park.”
A family member of Jamie’s, John Lee, said:”We have no idea what was behind this. You tell me. The family are trying to deal with it. We are trying to face up to it.
“We’re devastated but we want to put a brave face on it. What else can we do?”
Detectives are scouring CCTV images and full forensic searches have been carried out.
Police have stepped up patrols and visibility in the area to try to reassure local people.