A man who called the ambulance to the scene of the killing of a Liverpool man on the Costa del Sol has described the moments after the attack as desperate efforts were made to save his life.
Steven Gray, 32, was shot dead in Sitio de Calahonda on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, after playing football at the Finca Naundrup complex. He was walking to his car when two balaclava-clad gunmen fired seven shots, killing him despite his football manager running to his aid.
Witness describes shooting and car fire
Lewis Ravenscroft, who lives in the area with his parents, told the ECHO: “It happened behind my house. Me and my dad were watching football on TV and we heard seven bangs. We ran out onto the balcony and saw the gunmen in balaclavas. Everyone was running for cover and someone just shouted to ring an ambulance so I did because I can speak Spanish.”
Within 15 minutes of phone calls to police, a fire was reported nearby. The killers dumped their foreign-plated Cupra and set it alight. Once the fire was extinguished, officers discovered two guns believed to be the murder weapons inside the vehicle. The two masked men are yet to be caught, and it is believed police have not made any arrests as yet. A local councillor, who declined a full interview, said the investigation remained open.
Quiet area shocked by violence
David, who works at the Club Del Sol, told the ECHO: “Something like this has never happened here before. This is a very quiet area, it’s very nice. Lots of British people go to the club and play football, but they are never any trouble. You expect this in Fuengirola or Marbella, but never here.”
News of the targeted attack spread in a local Facebook group, with several people concerned for family members at the club at the time. Daniela Wenk, who runs the largest local Facebook group, Sitio de Calahonda Q&A, said people went into a panic. She said: “People got worried, of course, straight away, because, especially here in Calahonda, we care for each other. And then with these gunshots that were counted and heard, so it was set straight away by a few.”
Family speaks of loss and unanswered questions
Steven's mum, Lynn Gray, previously told the ECHO: “Steven was walking to his car after playing a football match with his friends. As he got to his car, with his back to them, [the] cowards brutally shot him from behind. Steven didn't see it coming and died instantly at the scene. This cruel, cowardly act has left Steven's family and friends devastated. My son will rest easy knowing how loved he'll always be.”
She added: “[Steven] went to Spain to get away from gang culture. He had no involvement in gang culture. Steven is from a family who care for him and always have and always will love him very much.”
An inquest held at Bootle Town Hall in December heard how Steven was a huge Everton fan and talented midfielder. His family told the proceedings he had been picked up by the Everton academy when he was four and played at a high level until he broke his leg. Lynn Gray said her son's “secret idol” was Steven Gerrard. A post-mortem carried out in Spain listed his cause of death as severe haemorrhaging caused by gunshot wounds to his thorax and abdomen. Senior Coroner Anita Bhardwaj said: “What we have is extremely limited because they're not providing us with any information.” The coroner ruled Steven's death was a result of unlawful killing.
Since the shooting, Lynn has received little information about the case, with Spanish authorities imposing a secrecy order through the local courts meaning little-to-no information is released - even to family.
