Detectives investigating last night’s shooting in a street in Weaste, Salford believe it could be related to the killing of businessman Paul Massey in July.
Mr Massey, well known to police for the past 30 years, was shot and killed outside his house in Clifton on Sunday 26 July by an unidentified gunman who is believed to have followed him home.
Read: White man in camouflage clothing with automatic handgun wanted for Paul Massey murder
Police are still searching for key witnesses to solve the murder, inclusing an Asian teenager who was on Manchester Road near Mr Massey’s house when he was gunned down in his front garden.
At a press briefing Tactical Commander for Salford and Trafford, Chief Superintendent Mary Doyle, said intelligence had been “unusually quiet” over Mr Massey’s death.
Read: Paul Massey shot dead in Clifton: Recap of all breaking news
At around 6.15pm on Wenesday 12 August shocked residents told SalfordOnline.com how they heard four distinct gunshots on Normanton Avenue in Weaste, Salford.
Read: Man, 33, shot in the hip on Normanton Avenue in Salford
One said she was in her kitchen washing up when the gun went off.
Another added that it sounded like fireworks, before police went “flying past my house to tape off the street.”
An ambulance under armed police guard then sped the injured victim from the scene.
New info: A 33-year-old man was shot in the torso in the attack.
He sustained a gunshot wound to his hip, which is not considered to be life-threatening.
Men in balaclavas were spotted leaving the scene shortly after the shooting, although this has not yet been confirmed by Greater Manchester Police.
Police cordoned off the area, questioning residents, and did not allow anyone on Normanton Avenue to leave the street throughout the evening.
They have urged anyone involved not to seek reprisals for the shooting, as violence has clearly escalated between groups in Salford.
It is the fourth shooting in a month in Salford, after violence in Little Hulton, Clifton, Swinton and Whit Lane in Salford.
There have also been street stabbings in Lower Broughton and Clifton, although these have not been linked to Mr Massey’s fatal shooting.
Read: Peacemaker stabbed in the back in Walkden after 11-man brawl
Read: Young family devastated by ‘mistaken identity’ petrol bomb attack on Kingsford Street house
[All pictures by SalfordOnline.com readers]
Police patrols in the area have been increased in the hope that officers can dampen down the possibility of further violence.
Two teenagers and a 20-year-old man have been arrested after a house was shot at in Little Hulton early Wednesday morning.
Two Major Incident Teams are working on identifying the Weaste gunman, said police in a statment tonight.
An Wednesday evening statment from Superintendent Mark Kenny was superseded by Salford Divisional Commander Chief Superintendent Mary Doyle.
She said: “An investigation into this incident has been launched but I would like to stress that enquiries are at a very early stage.
“We are looking into the possibility that this incident is connected with the murder of Paul Massey and as such we currently have two specialised Major Incident Teams working tirelessly to identify and prosecute those responsible for these offences.
“As I have said previously, I believe that the answer to what happened to Paul Massey and now this incident lie within the community and I would like to urge anybody with information to come forward.
“Please don’t attempt to take the law into your own hands and get involved, leave that to the police as it is what we are here to do.
“I would like to stress that any information given to police will be treated in the strictest confidence or alternatively if people would prefer complete anonymity when passing on information then Crimestoppers is available.
“In the meantime we have dedicated extra patrols to Salford to try and prevent further incidents from taking place and also offer reassurance to the community that incidents like this will not be tolerated.
“If anybody has any concerns then please talk to our officers, these patrols will remain in place 24 hours a day for the foreseeable future.”
Councillor for Weaste, and the chair of Salford Labour Party Paul Wilson made a direct appeal to residents to help police solve the escalating violence.
He said: “I’m personally shocked that this occurred in Weaste, understandably residents will be concerned that this has happened on a quiet residential street.
“The police have assured me that they have increased patrols in the area to prevent any further offences and reassure the public.
“I’d like to appeal directly to members of the community to come forward if they have any information which may assist the police with their investigation.”
Anybody with information should contact police on 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
