Witnesses tell of terrifying gun attack
TERRIFIED bystanders in Southport town centre told of their horror at witnessing the daytime shooting.
Judge Denis Watson, QC, said that Michael Gibbons had an eye test appointment at Specsavers in Eastbank Street at midday on December 21.
He was with his four-year-old son.
Mr Gibbons said that he was heading home when his son asked for a “chippy”, so they went into Harpers chip shop.
He saw a man running fast across the street towards Chapel Street and heard someone say: “He’s got a shotgun.”
He turned and saw another man jogging, as if chasing the first, and saw him take a gun from inside his jacket.
“He held it across his body, tucked it into his right side and took aim and fired.”
He said: “I couldn’t believe what I was seeing.”
He said he saw “a cloud of smoke” before seeing the man put the gun back in his jacket, turn around and run.
He said: “In my opinion the shooter was aiming to hit the first male at close range and he didn’t care who else was around. This was only a few days before Christmas and the streets were very busy with families and people of all ages doing their Christmas shopping.”
Judge Watson said Emma Bullimore was out shopping with her young children, a friend, Cheryl White, and her young daughter.
They were at the Eastbank Street and Chapel Street junction and crossed the road.
She said she heard a noise that sounded like a “firework”.
She saw a man holding a gun in his right hand, supported by his left hand.
She said “it was obvious this male appeared to be the target”.
She said as he was running away he was crouching, as if he was trying to avoid being shot.
Judge Watson said that Cheryl White was out shopping and said the gunman had a hood up and a snood or scarf covering his face from the eyes down.
He was wearing allblack or dark coloured clothing.
Ms White said: “I heard a noise that sounded like a bomb.”
She checked on her daughter, then looked back and saw the man running away.
The court heard that Gary Francis, a sales adviser working at BrightHouse, was in the shop.
He was dealing with a sale when he heard a loud bang.
He said he went out to look and saw a lad in the middle of the road facing him.
He saw him run across the road towards the newsagents next to the BrightHouse shop before getting on a mountain bike.
Mr Francis said that the lad rode off at speed, turning right into Princes Street.
As he got on the bike, he put the gun back in his jacket.
PC Paul Gregory was first at the scene. He saw Mr Jopson outside Thorntons, holding his head with tissue in his hand “soaking up blood”.
He said: “I’ve been shot in the head.”
PC Delaney said Mr Jopson was unwilling to provide a statement at the scene.