A manhunt has been launched after a ‘heinous’ drive-by shooting in a quiet residential street saw a man killed with a shotgun as he played football with friends.
A 20-year-old man was fatally wounded after a single shot was fired in Erdington, Birmingham, just before 7.30pm on Thursday, West Midlands Police said.
Officers are now hunting the ‘occupants of a dark-coloured vehicle’ and have been scouring CCTV in a bid to trace the gunmen.
The family of the victim are being supported by specialist officers following the 22nd murder probe in Birmingham this year.
No-one has been arrested but the force said it would be increasing patrols in the area over the weekend.
A blue tent is erected on the spot where a 20-year-old man was shot dead in Birmingham last night
Emergency services and forensics officers are on scene at a reported drive-by shooting in Erdington last night
It is the third fatal shooting in the city this year and the second in Erdington, following the death of Remal Hunt in April.
Local MP Jack Dromey revealed that he had been told how six men had been playing football in the street when the attack took place.
He said: ‘A car pulled up and a man was shot with a shotgun from the car window.’
He tweeted: ‘Another young man shot dead on the streets of Erdington, but 20 years old. Another tragic waste of a young man’s life.
‘My condolences to his family and my full support for the police hunting his killer. Anyone knows who it was, please come forward.’
A resident in the road, mother-of-four Leesha Cambell, said: ‘My son came home from riding his bike 10 minutes before we heard the gun go off, he was riding up and down the street.
‘I saw two cars outside, I just thought the shop was getting robbed again – and that’s when all of the police showed up and the tent went up.
‘Someone was dead in the road, it could of been my son last night, he’s 10 years old.
Local MP Jack Dromey revealed that he had been told how six men had been playing football in the street when the attack took place
The family of the victim are being supported by specialist officers following the 22nd murder probe in Birmingham this year
‘This area is not good, there are drug dealers everywhere, selling them anywhere and in front of anyone, I’m scared of being here.
‘My son doesn’t know why he can’t go outside and play, but it’s not safe. After it happened he told me he’s so scared and he won’t go out, the area makes him feel like he could be next.
‘We need more cameras and we need more police here all of the time.
‘Because there was more police on the road last night it was the safest night’s sleep I have had since living here – I could leave my window open without worrying.
‘I slept really good but why does it take a tragedy like this for us to be able to have protection from these criminals?
‘My young son saw a dead body last night, he watched as they covered the body up – it’s traumatic.’
Community activist Desmond Jaddoo said: ‘My sincere condolences go out to family, friends and that community in Erdington.
‘Clearly it highlights the gun and knife crime epidemic we do have and families are being torn apart and destroyed by what’s happening.
The man was killed in Goosemore Lane, Erdington, just before 7.30pm, sparking the city’s 20th murder probe of the year
‘There’s still a lot of work to be done, with all parts of community coming together, with the authorities, to address this. It must cease.
‘Yet again a young man with his life ahead of him is no longer here because of this epidemic.’
‘There is shock, horror and disbelief in the area, and the street is very much a leafy suburb.
‘It highlights the fact, once again, that nowhere is immune to the scourge of violence.’
Appealing for information, Detective Chief Inspector Scott Griffiths said: ‘Another young man has been robbed of his life and his family left devastated by his loss. Officers are supporting them after such shocking news.
‘This was a heinous act of violence and my team have worked through the night to secure evidence from the scene and fast-track our inquiries, but I need anyone with information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, to contact us.
‘We have extra officers in the area through today and into the weekend to offer reassurance to the local community.’
Detectives can be contacted through the force website or by calling 101, or information can be passed to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
