Liverpool shooting: Merseyside Police name victim shot dead by cyclist

29-year-old arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder

Merseyside Police have named a 27-year-old man who was shot by a cyclist in the Belle Vale area of Liverpool on Sunday morning.

Carl Russell, who was from the area, is believed to have been shot as he was climbing out of a car in Cornwood Close shortly before 11.30 am.

He was treated at the scene for critical injuries to his head and torso and was then taken to hospital, where he was pronounced dead a short time later.

A 29-year-old man, also from Belle Vale, has been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder.

"We believe the victim was shot as he and his girlfriend were getting out of a car and that it was a targeted incident," said Detective Chief Inspector Mark Baker of Merseyside Police.

"We will be looking in to his movements before the incident took place and trying to establish a motive for the attack."

"The offender is believed to have been riding a pedal bike and made off from the scene on the bike in the direction of Madeira Drive."

"He is described as white, in his late 20s, of medium build, dressed all in black and wearing a high-vis orange jacket which was dark blue at the bottom and had a reflective band."

A murder investigation into the shooting has been opened and police officers are conducting door-to-door enquiries and executing warrants at addresses in Belle Vale.

Detectives are appealing to members of the public for information about the shooting.

"You may have seen or heard suspicious behaviour in Cornwood Close or nearby in Belle Vale and any information, no matter how small you think it may be, could prove crucial as we seek to establish what happened and bring those responsible to justice," DCI Baker said.

"I would particularly appeal to anyone driving in the area who has a dashcam to review this and see if the male described is recorded on it."

"We share the community’s shock and concern that this could happen in a residential street in broad daylight late on a Sunday morning."

"I want to reassure the public that gun crime will not be tolerated on the streets of Merseyside at any time of day, and that we will thoroughly investigate any information given to us so we can put anyone who carries guns on our streets behind bars."

Anyone with information is asked to contact Merseyside Police via Twitter @MerPolCC or Facebook Merseyside Police CC. You can also call 101 quoting incident reference 420 of 7/10/18 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously, on 0800 555 111 or at: https://crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information