Three gunshots were heard as a man was chased into a cafe before armed police swooped on the scene in Toxteth, Merseyside. The incident occurred on Lodge Lane on June 19, and police are now appealing for witnesses.
Shooting at Bala Bs Soul Food Kitchen
A man was gunned down inside a cafe after being chased along the street. Police rushed to Bala Bs Soul Food Kitchen on Lodge Lane at around 5pm on June 19 following reports of gunfire. Merseyside Police confirmed that armed units were deployed to the venue, and Lodge Lane was sealed off between Bentley Road and Seacole Close.
A woman working nearby told the Liverpool Echo she heard three distinct bangs before armed police arrived. She said: "I didn't see anything, I was upstairs, but we heard three bangs and then all the police arrived."
The victim, believed to be a man in his 20s, was pursued along the street and into the cafe before being shot. Police discovered multiple bullet casings inside the establishment. Initially, Merseyside Police stated no one had been injured, but later confirmed the man sustained non-life-threatening wounds.
Second Shooting in the Area
This shooting marks the second such incident in the locality this month. One local man said: "It is ridiculous what is happening now. There is going to be retaliation for this, it's not safe. I've been here for 10 years and it's just getting worse."
When the Liverpool Echo visited the scene on Saturday morning, two Matrix vans, a patrol car, and an unmarked police vehicle were stationed outside the cordoned-off cafe. Officers were seen operating inside while detectives conducted house-to-house inquiries.
Section 60 Order Imposed
A Section 60 order is now in place in the area following the shooting, along with an increased police presence. This gives officers extra stop-and-search powers in the area, which includes Upper Parliament Street, Smithdown Road, Greenbank Road, North Mossley Hill Road, Queens Drive, Aigburth Vale, Carnatic Road, Victoria Road, Ashfield Road, Aigburth Road, Park Road, Park Place, and St James Place.
Friday's shooting follows a previous incident on June 3, when a man was shot in the arm outside the Merseyside Caribbean Council Community Centre on Amberley Street. The victim is not cooperating with police, and detectives believe the gunman in that incident was on an electric bike and dressed in black.
Police Appeal
Detective Chief Inspector Alan Nuttall said: "Firing a gun inside a cafe was a dangerous and reckless act of violence where many more people could have been hurt and led to more tragic circumstances. The investigation is in the very early stages as we continue to establish what has taken place. The shooting took place at a busy time of day with lots of people in the vicinity, so I am appealing to those who we haven't already spoken to, please get in touch."
He added: "I also urge people in the area to please check your CCTV, dashcam devices or doorbell footage to see if it has captured anything or anyone suspicious which will help with our enquiries. Any information you provide, however insignificant it may seem, could be vital to our investigation. We know that guns cause misery on our streets and we would ask for the public's help in coming forward with any information they have so we can find the person or people responsible. Merseyside Police is committed to removing firearms from our streets and bringing those who carry or use them to justice."
A force spokesperson stated: "Anyone who has information which can assist officers in finding anyone responsible can contact Merseyside Police's social media desk via X or Facebook @MerPolCC quoting incident number 809 of Friday, June 19. You can also report information via the website."
