Merseyside Police has released new CCTV footage showing the movements of four murder suspects around an hour before an innocent young man was gunned down with a submachine gun. Dad-to-be Sam Rimmer, 22, was with a group of friends on Lavrock Bank in Dingle on August 16, 2022 when four riders on two electric bikes drove into the cul-de-sac, honked a horn to attract attention and then fired a number of shots towards them.
Mr Rimmer was hit by one of eight bullets fired from a "military grade" Skorpion submachine gun - a deadly weapon responsible for a number of murders in the same year - and died in hospital. It has been over four years since Mr Rimmer's murder and, despite 10 people being arrested, no one has been charged.
New footage shows suspects near children's playground
The new footage, at around 10.30pm - around an hour before Mr Rimmer's murder, shows the four suspects congregating close to a children's playground off Cockburn Street, Dingle. One of the suspects has a black item in his hand which police believe is the gun used in the shooting. The footage shows the man "fiddling" with the gun, which could be the moment it was loaded or a blockage was sorted.
The new footage was shown on BBC Crimewatch Live on Tuesday morning with Merseyside Police issuing a new appeal for people to come forward with information.
Detective leading investigation urges public to come forward
Detective Chief Inspector Steve McGrath, who is leading the investigation, said: "This footage shows four males who we are looking to speak to in connection with Sam's murder. I believe from viewing the footage that they are potentially in possession of a firearm and we continue to carry out extensive enquiries to find these individuals."
"I appreciate no one is going to recognise the faces of the males by watching the CCTV, but we hope that it could jog someone's memory who knows the males by their clothing or use of the bikes in the location from around that time."
Sam Rimmer's mum makes emotional appeal
Mr Rimmer's mum Joanne Rimmer also issued a new appeal this week, calling for the community to help bring her a sense of justice so she can close the door on the dark chapter and properly mourn her son. She told the ECHO: "I'm appealing to the friends and families of the four people who were on the bikes, and to the other group who were in Lavrock Bank on the night Sam was murdered."
"Only one person pulled the trigger. There are people who know who that person is. People know exactly what happened and who killed Sam. The CCTV shows those responsible for Sam's death with the weapon. A submachine gun in a children's park. If you know something, please speak out."
"Look into the eyes of your own children, or someone you love and imagine never seeing those eyes open again. Never feeling the warmth of a hug. Living with the knowledge that someone took their life while you are left with a lifetime of pain. This is my reality."
"Sam's murderers will potentially receive long prison sentences, but their family will still be able to visit. They will be allowed home to rebuild their lives. Sam will never come home. Please do not wait until another family receives the knock at the door Or wait until it is your child, brother, sister or someone you love. Those responsible have already murdered, what next? What else are they capable of?"
"Sam's death was horrific. He does not deserve to have this wall of silence. I am Sam's mum. I am the mother of a murdered son and I am asking you to find the courage to do what is right."
Gang-related dispute backdrop
The ECHO previously reported that Merseyside Police's investigating team were confident that one of the suspects arrested as part of the probe had pulled the trigger. Det Ch Ins McGrath told the ECHO that the shooting came against the backdrop of a gang-related dispute in the Dingle area. He said: "There were a number of incidents in and around the Dingle area over a 12 to 18 month period in the lead up to Sam's murder. This involved violence between individuals involved in localised drug dealing."
"We believe this might be part of that. Sam was of good character. Some of his associates are on the periphery of criminality and that's why we believe this has happened. This is a group offence - what I believe is it's a targeted attack on his group of friends and he has been in the middle of it."
Speaking on the anniversary of Mr Rimmer's murder in August, the detective said: "I can assure you that the people involved in Sam's murder directly - those four individuals on the bike[s] - are still involved in serious criminality in and around the Dingle area as well. If you think someone you're close to, who was involved in Sam's murder, has turned a new leaf or is telling you that they're not involved I can tell you that's not true."
Investigators said they need the "final piece of the puzzle", such as a piece of evidence that could be forensically examined, such as the missing electric bikes and the murder weapon, or witness accounts regarding the movements of the suspects. A Crimestoppers appeal is also in place with a reward of £20,000 for any information that leads to the conviction of those involved.
