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Boy, 15, shot dead in city street | Boy, 15, shot dead in city street |
(about 2 hours later) | |
The police have appealed for help from the public to find the killer of a teenager shot dead in Manchester. | |
Detectives believe the shooting of the 15-year-old boy in the Moss Side area of the city was a planned attack - although they do not know the motive. | |
Superintendent John O'Hare, of Greater Manchester Police, is urging those with information to come forward. | |
He said officers had been working with locals to tackle gun crime but this shooting had "bucked a trend". | |
"I appeal for those who were involved in it to look at what's happened," he added. | |
"If there are people that can stop this and have the power to stop it, I'm asking them to examine their consciences, think about the family, think about the community, and have the strength to put a stop to it." | |
The youngster, who has not been named, was found unconscious and no longer breathing after police were called to the incident at around 0230 BST on Saturday. | |
A murder inquiry has been opened and the Raby Street area sealed off for investigators to carry out a detailed search around the crime scene, which backs on to part of Moss Side Community Park. | |
The teenager's body was found near the park's swings and slide. | |
Forensic officers have erected a tent behind a basketball court next to the community centre and police tape has been strung around the area. | |
Guns and drugsMoss Side has had a reputation for gang warfare | |
The killing comes less than three months after 45-year-old Ernest Gifford was gunned down at his home on the street while his partner and her children were in the property. | |
Masked gunmen burst in, took Mr Gifford to a second room and shot him dead before fleeing. | |
Last month three men were shot and wounded in two separate incidents in Moss Side and concern is now mounting among locals the area could once again be a centre of gun violence. | |
One local resident, who did not want to be named, said: "I only moved here three months ago and I know Moss Side had a reputation, but I thought things were getting better. | One local resident, who did not want to be named, said: "I only moved here three months ago and I know Moss Side had a reputation, but I thought things were getting better. |
"The council has done quite a lot on improving the area, but you still have that element involved in guns and drugs." | |
A post-mortem examination is expected to be carried out on the body of the teenager over the weekend. | |