Teen ‘who was in car with Itseli’ hands himself in to gardaí

A male believed to have been with Joshua Itseli (20) when he was shot dead in Drimnagh has handed himself in to gardaí.

Detectives are investigating if the juvenile was travelling in a stolen Volkswagen Golf with the murder victim and three other associates before the killing in Dublin.

It comes as the alleged shooter, who was arrested shortly after the incident last Monday morning, has “gone to ground” after being released without charge.

Detectives are continuing to investigate the fatal shooting of Itseli on the junction of Knocknarea Road and Curlew Road shortly after midnight.

They are investigating if the victim and his associates were on their way to carry out a pipebomb attack when they were intercepted by rival criminals.

Three men, including a violent young criminal, were detained near the scene but released without charge on Wednesday.

A fifth male is now believed to have been in the car at the time of the incident.

Sources said the teenage juvenile handed himself in to gardaí earlier this week, adding that he was not arrested but was given the opportunity to give a voluntary statement under caution.

“Gardaí are continuing to gather CCTV footage and further evidence in this case, and a decision was made not to arrest this individual at this time,” a source said.

The stolen Golf was rammed at around 12.15am and during the incident an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle was fired around 20 times.

This weapon was later seized and initial examinations indicated it was the only weapon fired during the incident.

Itseli was hit in the head and died at the scene after being shot by one of his associates.

A young criminal, currently on bail for a serious attack on a woman, is believed to have pulled the trigger.

It is understood he was detained wearing clothing matching that of the armed man captured on CCTV at the scene, and gardaí are compiling a file for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

Sources said this individual has “gone to ground” since being released amid fears of reprisal attacks linked to the purported pipe-bomb attack and fatal shooting.

A viable explosive device was recovered nearby on Knocknarea Court and gardaí are investigating if this was to be used to target a property before the shooting.