Two gunshots were heard and people were seen fleeing after a shooting inside a cafe on Lodge Lane in Toxteth this afternoon. Armed police were dispatched to the scene at approximately 5pm on Friday, June 19.
Incident at Bala B's Soul Food Kitchen
Witnesses reported that the incident occurred at Bala B's Soul Food Kitchen. Multiple detectives, uniformed officers, and forensic teams were observed entering and exiting the premises. Lodge Lane was closed from Bentley Road to Seacole Close, and police interviewed other shopkeepers within the cordon.
Merseyside Police confirmed that no one was injured during the shooting, but several gun shell casings were found inside the cafe. Paramedics were seen speaking to individuals inside the cordon, and a police helicopter hovered overhead.
Witness Accounts
A resident of Bentley Road told the ECHO that he heard “what were clearly two gunshots” around 5pm and subsequently saw people running away from the scene. Another man reported hearing the suspect shout “I’ll be back” before fleeing in a taxi.
The cordon, located on a busy street with shops, restaurants, takeaways, and residential areas, attracted dozens of onlookers and forced delivery drivers to find alternative routes.
Community Reactions
A group of three friends living on Bentley Road were among those watching. One man said, “I got back home at about 6pm and saw all the police.” A woman added, “It’s not rare to see police here, but it's rare to see this amount of police around here.”
A woman living on Sefton Park Road expressed horror upon learning of the shots fired, arguing that such police incidents were becoming too common in Toxteth. She said, “I don’t like living here. I have to get out. I have a son here. I checked my doorbell footage when I heard it was a shooting but there was nothing there.”
However, another woman said such incidents were rare. She stated, “This is a safe neighbourhood. You don’t get much stuff like this happening around here. I have a panic alarm but have never had to use it.”
Others became aware of the situation due to the police helicopter. One man mentioned he was making chicken curry when he heard the chopper and walked out to the cordon.
Police Appeal
Chief Inspector Gillian Kearns appealed for witnesses or anyone with information to come forward. She urged those with CCTV footage from the area to contact police. “I would like to reassure anyone who works or lives in the area that our officers immediately respond to incidents such as these involving guns and are actively working to make Merseyside a safer place to live and work,” she said.
Anyone with information can contact Merseyside Police via X or Facebook @MerPolCC, report via their website, or call 101 quoting incident number 809 of Friday 19 June. Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
