Detectives are appealing for information following a fatal shooting in Netherton yesterday evening, Thursday 7 June.

Emergency services were called to Assissian Crescent at around 8pm following reports a male had been shot.

On arrival, officers found a 21 year-old male from the Manchester area with injuries consistent with a firearms discharge.

He was taken to hospital but was sadly pronounced deceased a short time later. His next of kin are in the process of being informed and a formal identification is expected to take place today.

An investigation is underway and CCTV, forensic and witness enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances.

Detective Inspector Tony O’Brien said: “The investigation is in its very early stages but we are keen to speak to anyone who may have information which could help us establish the full circumstances and find those responsible. You may have seen or heard suspicious behaviour in Assissian Crescent or the surrounding areas and any information, no matter how small, could prove vital to the investigation.

“We are particularly keen to speak to a male who was believed to have run from Finlay Court into Peterborough Drive at the time of the incident. He is described as being a white male, slim build, aged approximately 20 years of age and around 5ft 7 tall, wearing a blue tracksuit.

“This is a shocking crime which has occurred in a residential area on a light summers night and I would appeal again to anyone who may have seen the incident itself, or someone making off on foot or in a vehicle, to please get in touch . I want to reassure the public that gun crime will not be tolerated on the streets of Merseyside and that we will thoroughly investigate any information given to us.”

Anyone with information on the incident is asked to contact Merseyside Police social media desk via Twitter @MerPolCC or Facebook Merseyside Police CC. You can also call 0151 777 8706 or 101 quoting incident reference 921 of 7/6/18 or contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously, on 0800 555 111 or via their online form at: https://crimestoppers-uk.org/give-in...ve-information.