The armed police pursuit followed a “targeted” shooting at a male riding a Sur-Ron bike on a housing estate
The armed police pursuit followed a “targeted” shooting at a male riding a Sur-Ron bike on a housing estate
16:52, 24 Mar 2026
A black Range Rover destroyed the front of a police car before a number of gun suspects were arrested attempting to flee up a canal footpath, the ECHO understands. Merseyside Police officers had been deployed to pursue the car after at least one shot had been fired at a man on a Sur-Ron bike during a “targeted attack” on a Litherland housing estate at around 4pm on Monday.
The car carrying four suspects fled before crashing into the front of a police vehicle on Melling Road in Aintree – around three-and-a-half miles from the street shooting scene. An eyewitness told the ECHO today, Tuesday, that the car crashed into a pursuing police vehicle before a number of suspects exited the car and attempted to leave the scene down the nearby canal footpath.
The witness, who did not want to be named, told the ECHO: “The car they were in was this great big thing.” Pointing towards Melling Road, he added: “It came down here but couldn’t get around. So it reversed back [into the police car].
“The car was down there, half the wheel was off and the front was all destroyed. These lads took off from the car and ran down the canal path. A police officer told me ‘they took it with them’, but he would not tell me what ‘it’ was.”
A widely-shared image seen by the ECHO showed a police vehicle, typically used for transporting armed officers, with a smashed front. The front left wheel was bent out of shape, while the wheel cover and other plastic debris from the car covered the road. Traffic was temporarily held while the police recovered its vehicle.
The suspect’s car was later abandoned on nearby Epsom Close. Four Liverpool men – aged 42, 31, 23 and 21 – were arrested on suspicion of possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, failing to stop a vehicle and dangerous driving. They remain in police custody.
A search of the area around Melling Road was carried out and, with the support of Police Dog Zargo, a bag containing two viable and loaded firearms were found discarded in bushes. It has not been confirmed at this time exactly where the bag was found.
The canal path at the junction of Aintree Lane and Melling Road remained cordoned off by police officers on Tuesday while investigations continued.
The force had originally been called following reports of a shot being fired on Fulwood Way – a pedestrianised narrow road on the Pendle estate, which leads into Rimrose Valley Country Park.
Part of the road remained cordoned off on Tuesday and police officers carried out examinations in front of a number of houses. Children’s toys and a trampoline could be seen in the front gardens of some of the houses.
Large parts of Bowland Drive were also cordoned off and police officers could be seen carrying out fingertip searches around a car park. Police detectives were also carrying out CCTV and witness appeals along the rows of plastic-fronted terraced houses.
A local woman told the ECHO that a gang of men had taken a shot at a young man riding a Sur-Ron bike around the estate. No injuries have currently been reported and investigators are making efforts to locate him.
The woman, who did not want to be named, said the men then escaped from the scene in a black Range Rover. Two other people told the ECHO on Monday that they saw a black vehicle in the vicinity of the incident. A second woman added she thought she heard a gunshot while walking over Rimrose Valley Country Park.
Merseyside Police Detective Sergeant Leighanne Davies said: “Thanks to a swift response from officers following reports of a shooting, we have been able to arrest four suspects and seize two viable firearms.
“To fire a weapon in the street, particularly at this time of day, is beyond comprehension. It shows that people involved in serious organised crime simply don’t care about anyone but themselves.
“Although we are still in the early stages of an investigation, we believe the intended target was a male on a Sur-Ron bike and enquiries are ongoing to find him. So far, there have been no reported injuries.”
Det Sgt Davies added: “I’m sure the community will be concerned by what happened yesterday, but I hope our response to this incident shows how determined we are to rid our streets of firearms and those prepared to use them.
“We will continue to show contempt for criminality and show compassion for the people in our communities who suffer at their hands. Although we have made four arrests, we are still appealing for anyone with information to come forward.
“If you witnessed what happened or have any information, please let us know as a matter of urgency.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact Merseyside Police via @MerpolCC with reference 26000232227, or report anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
