Two roads were cordoned off as a Vauxhall Astra was found crashed just a few streets away from where the shot was fired
23:40, 06 Jan 2025Updated 06:19, 07 Jan 2025
Police cordoned off Bedford Road and Antonio Road following an incident
Frightened neighbours said they heard a ‘loud bang’ after a shotgun was reportedly fired in the street. Officers were called to Bedford Road in Bootle just after 6pm last night, January 6, where it was reported a loud bang and shouting had been heard in the street.
Witnesses claimed to have seen a man holding what appeared to be a firearm, before leaving the scene in a car. A short time later it was reported a white Vauxhall Astra had been involved in a collision with a parked car on nearby Antonio Street.
The badly damaged vehicle could be seen sat in the middle of a second police cordon on Antonio Street, its windscreen smashed and its bonnet crumpled. Detectives also believe a silver estate or 4×4 was seen in Bedford Road at the time of the incident and are appealing for anyone with CCTV or dashcam footage of any part of the incident or those vehicles in the vicinity to contact police.
One resident described looking out his window to see a matrix armed police van and several other police vehicles. Speaking to the ECHO, he said: “I heard a big bang at about six o’clock. And then next thing there were armed police everywhere, about six or seven police cars outside my house.”
The badly damaged Astra was removed from Antonio Street, Bootle
Another neighbour said they heard a “loud bang” that “sounded as if something had fallen”. Another man told the ECHO: “All I know is I heard a big bang and then loads of police turned up.”
One woman, who lives by the cordon on Antonio Road, said she was in her kitchen at the back of her house when she heard all the commotion. “I came out from the kitchen and I saw all of the blue flashing lights outside,” she said. “I knew something bad had happened.”
Forensic officers were seen searching the road with a torch and police confirmed a spent shotgun cartridge had been recovered which has been taken away for further examination. There have been no reports of any injuries or damage in relation to the incident, and police say checks at local hospitals for injuries consistent with a shooting have so far proved negative.
Forensic officers have been working both inside and outside the cordon on Bedford Road, Bootle
An investigation is now underway, with extensive CCTV and witness enquiries being carried out in the area. Detective Inspector Gavin Mulcahy said: “We are in the very early stages of our investigation into this incident, but the evidence so far suggests a shotgun was discharged on Bedford Road at around 6pm this evening.
“The risks of shooting such a weapon on a residential street are clear, and such dangerous and reckless behaviour will never be tolerated by Merseyside Police. We understand the concern such an incident will cause in the community, and I want to give my assurance to those residents that we are committed to finding the offenders and bringing them to justice.
“We are determined to rid the streets of firearms and find all those prepared to store, carry and use them. They are criminals who do not care about the fear and devastation their actions can wreak on our communities and they have no place here in Merseyside. We conduct warrants, stop checks and searches in those areas where people tell us these offenders operate, so keep telling us what you know so that we can take positive action.
“If you witnessed this incident, or have CCTV or doorbell footage, or any information which could help us with our enquiries then please come forward. I would also like to appeal to any motorists who were in the area, who may have captured the incident on dashcam to get in touch.”
Anyone with information on this incident, or who knows anything about firearms in their area, should contact Merseyside Police social media desk via X @MerPolCC or Facebook ‘Merseyside Police Contact Centre’. You can also call 101 quoting incident reference 25000015746 or contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, or via their website here.