Police warn over gangster's murder

Merseyside Police Logo.
12 April 2012

Police have warned a city's underworld not to embark on a tit for tat shooting war after a gangster was gunned down in the street.

Nicky Ayers, 46, was killed in the early hours of Thursday close to his daughter's home in Liverpool.

Merseyside Police say they are keeping an open mind about the motive for the murder but also warned they will not tolerate an escalation of gun crime.

Mr Ayers was thought to be involved in north Liverpool factions involved in a turf war over drugs.

Recently the battle has even spread to the football pitch with a number of incidents disrupting Sunday league games between teams associated with the gangs.

Detective Chief Inspector Tim Keelan, who is leading the investigation into Mr Ayers' murder, said it remains too early to say if the shooting was gang related.

But he added: "We are appealing for information from the community which may assist us with that line of inquiry. Issues around football teams on Merseyside are a line of inquiry we are also pursuing. There have been a number of incidents reported recently but we are keeping an open mind about what brought about the murder of Mr Ayers."

Paramedics found Mr Ayers collapsed outside a house in South Cantril Avenue, West Derby, at around 12.10am. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police said he had been to his daughter's house nearby but left there at 9pm and officers want to establish his movements afterwards.

Mr Keelan added: "Following any killing of this nature I would always fear reprisals but what I would say is that we have made considerable efforts on Merseyside to challenge gun crime, we have had a lot of success and we are working with the family and working with communities to make sure we reduce gun crime."

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