Dispute over woman could be behind killing of young dad
A DISPUTE over a woman could be behind the killing of a young dad shot dead in an ambush. It is one line of inquiry being considered by detectives investigating the shooting of Luke Graham, who was gunned down in a street in Ashton-under-Lyne. The 31-year-old, known as ‘Tank,’ was shot last Wednesday evening. He was sitting in a van on Birch Street with another man when masked gunmen opened fire.
Mr Graham, a passenger in the van, and the driver, in his 20s, were ambushed by two men who emerged from a nearby terrace house. It is understood Mr Graham was hit three times after his passenger door was opened.
The driver got out of the van and fled up the street but was shot at several times and hit in the leg. He later went to hospital and is in a stable condition.
The M.E.N. has learned detectives are not yet clear what prompted the shooting. However, it is understood a dispute over a woman is one line of inquiry being considered by detectives from GMP’s Major Incident Team.
A spokeswoman for GMP said: “Numerous possible motives are being looked at as part of this investigation and we are keeping an open mind.”
Paying tribute to his son, Mr Graham’s father Pete said: “Luke was a loving son, dad and brother, who was always there for his family and friends. He was the type of person who would go out of his way to help others and now we are broken as a family.
“We can’t believe he’s gone and he has been taken from us in such a horrific and cowardly act of violence.
“Losing Luke has devastated me as a father, and I wouldn’t want any other parent or family to go through the hell I am living in at the moment.
“I would just like to thank the police for their tireless efforts in trying to piece together what has happened and would especially like to thank the community at Birch Street in Ashton where Luke passed away. People there risked their own safety and tried their best to save Luke when he was killed that evening.
“It is a great comfort to me as a dad that he did not pass away alone and there were people there for him.”
Two men – aged 29 and 32 – arrested on suspicion of murder have been bailed until July.
A 28-year-old man who was also arrested on suspicion of murder was being held in custody for questioning.