Ladywood shooting: 'Young father' killed in shooting outside Birmingham primary school

Megan White8 May 2019
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A 23-year-old man died after a gunman opened fire on a car outside a primary school in front of shocked witnesses.

The man, who is believed to be a young father, was killed and two others injured in Ladywood, Birmingham, just after 5pm on Tuesday.

The shooting, yards from the windows of classrooms at St John and St Peter's CE Academy school on St Vincent Street West, left residents feeling "sick" and in shock.

Two men aged 19 and 20 were taken to hospital for treatment, but their injuries were not thought to be life-threatening or life-changing, West Midlands Police said.

St John and St Peter's CE Academy school remained closed on Wednesday while the road stayed cordoned off
PA

On Wednesday, a blue tent was thought to be covering the car the victim was said to have been sitting in with two other men when the attack happened, opposite a row of shops.

Another dark sheet could be seen next to a tree by a low wall 20 metres away from the tent, where it is thought the victim collapsed.

The 23-year-old was shot outside the primary school on Tuesday
PA

One woman described how another vehicle pulled up by the car, and "pow, pow, pow - a succession of shots" rang out.

Marie Deehan said: "A car came down the road and they had the window down and they started shooting.

"The guy who got killed, he ran as if to jump the wall I was standing in front of.

A blue tent covering the car where the victim is said to have been shot remained at the scene on Wednesday
PA

"They were firing from the car, and they come out the driver's side.

"It seemed like there was multiple shots, like a pow, pow, pow - a succession of shots.

"He ran towards the shops, towards the chemist and then he was down."

She described the three attackers as male and wearing balaclavas and said the other car appeared to have been struck by at least one bullet.

Miss Deehan said she had not slept overnight after what she had seen.

She added: "I know him, he was never in trouble, and he always said hello. He's got a very young baby, a few weeks old. I feel so sick."

Miss Deehan said that she came across another man, who had been in the same car as the victim, sitting down behind nearby buildings, trying to stem the bleeding from a head wound.

The shooting happened in a busy area of Ladywood, near a community centre, the shops and the school, which was closed on Wednesday.

A spokesman for All Saints Multi-Academy Trust, which runs the school, said staff would be in touch with parents with further information on when it would be reopening.

West Midlands Police said a post-mortem was due to be carried out on the victim, and inquiries were continuing.

There have been no arrests and witnesses are being asked to come forward.

Detectives launched an investigation into the shooting and extra police officers were deployed in the area on Tuesday night.

No arrests had been made over the killing and witnesses were encouraged to come forward.

Anyone with information was asked to contact police via Live Chat at west-midlands.police.uk between 8am and midnight, or call 101 anytime quoting log number 1754 of 7 May.

Crimestoppers can also be called anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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