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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Police positive in shooting probe | Police positive in shooting probe |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Detectives investigating the death of a 15-year-old boy who was gunned down in Manchester say they are pursuing some "fruitful" lines of inquiry. | Detectives investigating the death of a 15-year-old boy who was gunned down in Manchester say they are pursuing some "fruitful" lines of inquiry. |
| The attack on Jessie James in the Moss Side area of the city is thought to have been a case of mistaken identity. | The attack on Jessie James in the Moss Side area of the city is thought to have been a case of mistaken identity. |
| A post-mortem examination showed he was killed by three bullets - two to his torso and one to his appendix. | A post-mortem examination showed he was killed by three bullets - two to his torso and one to his appendix. |
| Jessie's mother Barbara Reid described her son as a bubbly boy and appealed for help from the community. | Jessie's mother Barbara Reid described her son as a bubbly boy and appealed for help from the community. |
| Det Supt Tony Cook, of Greater Manchester Police, said: "There's no shred of evidence to suggest he was a member of any gang." | Det Supt Tony Cook, of Greater Manchester Police, said: "There's no shred of evidence to suggest he was a member of any gang." |
| Det Supt Cook said the teenager was killed with a semi-automatic pistol in a park on Raby Street in the early hours of Saturday. | Det Supt Cook said the teenager was killed with a semi-automatic pistol in a park on Raby Street in the early hours of Saturday. |
| The police were keeping an open mind over the motive for the shooting, he said. | The police were keeping an open mind over the motive for the shooting, he said. |
| Schoolboy Jessie James was studying for his GCSEs Police statement | |
| "The most likely explanation is that Jessie was in the wrong place at the wrong time," he added. | "The most likely explanation is that Jessie was in the wrong place at the wrong time," he added. |
| "It probably was mistaken identity." | "It probably was mistaken identity." |
| The detective also said: "We are in the process of pursuing fruitful lines of enquiry and our objective is to work with the family and the community to find those responsible for this murder." | The detective also said: "We are in the process of pursuing fruitful lines of enquiry and our objective is to work with the family and the community to find those responsible for this murder." |
| Jessie's mother said: "Everyone loved Jessie and it doesn't make sense that he's been killed. | Jessie's mother said: "Everyone loved Jessie and it doesn't make sense that he's been killed. |
| "He was everyone's friend and didn't care about people's background, colour, religion or anything - he was a just an open-minded, friendly person who loved being around others. He mixed with everyone." | "He was everyone's friend and didn't care about people's background, colour, religion or anything - he was a just an open-minded, friendly person who loved being around others. He mixed with everyone." |
| Family appeal | Family appeal |
| Ms Reid said her son used to attend church with her, and remembered what he had learnt from the Bible. | Ms Reid said her son used to attend church with her, and remembered what he had learnt from the Bible. |
| In a joint statement, the family appealed to the community to help catch the killers. | In a joint statement, the family appealed to the community to help catch the killers. |
| "If you know what happened or know who's responsible, then please don't shield them," they said. | "If you know what happened or know who's responsible, then please don't shield them," they said. |
| Investigations continue at the site of the shooting | |
| "How would you feel if this was your son or your brother? How would you feel if you were hearing reports your relative had been murdered?" | "How would you feel if this was your son or your brother? How would you feel if you were hearing reports your relative had been murdered?" |
| Michael Simpson, the pastor at Mrs Reid's church, said: "The community is genuinely bewildered." | Michael Simpson, the pastor at Mrs Reid's church, said: "The community is genuinely bewildered." |
| Jessie lived in Greame Street, Moss Side and attended the nearby Manchester Academy High School. | Jessie lived in Greame Street, Moss Side and attended the nearby Manchester Academy High School. |
| His killing on Raby Street comes less than three months after 45-year-old Ernest Gifford was shot at home on Raby Street. | His killing on Raby Street comes less than three months after 45-year-old Ernest Gifford was shot at home on Raby Street. |
| And last month, three men were shot and wounded in two separate incidents in other parts of Moss Side. | And last month, three men were shot and wounded in two separate incidents in other parts of Moss Side. |
| Concern is now mounting among local people that the area could once again be a centre of gun violence and police have stepped up patrols to reassure residents. | Concern is now mounting among local people that the area could once again be a centre of gun violence and police have stepped up patrols to reassure residents. |