Seventeen-year-old boy shot dead in Liverpool street

The victim has been named as Kevin Wilson

The spot where the shooting took place (Google)

Police have stepped up patrols in Liverpool’s Watertree area after a 17-year-old boy was shot dead last night.

The victim, named as teenager Kevin Wilson, was shot in the back at around 8.30pm.

Police who arrived at the scene found Mr Wilson bleeding and performed CPR on him until paramedics arrived. They took him to Liverpool’s Royal University Hospital where he died a short while later.

The shooting occurred at the junction of Smithtown Road and Holmes Street, in a mainly residential area where some local shops.

Mr Wilson was originally from Scotland but had been living in Liverpool. His next of kin have been informed.

Police believe the boy was specifically targeted by his killer and said detectives were working to establish a possible motive for the shooting, which is currently unknown.

“We would like to reassure the local community that we believe this was a targeted attack and that incidents of this nature are still rare. We are not prepared to allow the close work we have developed with the community to be disrupted,” Merseyside Police Superintendent Jenny Sims said.

“The community and partner agencies have worked hard with Merseyside Police to endeavour to eradicate firearm incidents and we have seen a significant reduction over the last few years. I want to make it very clear that we are not prepared to tolerate these incidents and we will be taking a strong and robust approach against those suspected of being involved.”

A cordon remains in place near the road junction where the shooting took place and high visibility patrols have been stepped up in the area to reassure residents.

Merseyside Police called on witnesses to the shooting to come forward.