Shots fired at neighbours as 'little girl' played outside her home

A man wearing a camouflage jacket is believed to have fired a gun at a terraced house as a young girl was said to be playing in the front garden

A young girl playing in her family's garden narrowly escaped harm when a gunman opened fire on a neighbouring home, shocked local residents have said.

In the daylight shooting incident, a bearded man wearing a camouflage jacket aimed at a home on a residential street in Bootle, Liverpool, and opened fire. In the aftermath, Merseyside Police have sealed off William Henry Street while investigations are carried out.

The police force has confirmed that they rushed to the scene shortly after 5.50pm on Friday evening, after reports of gunfire targeting a house and vandalism linked to a bearded man in a camo jacket.

Police discovered damage to the front wall of a residence, but thankfully, no one was hurt in the chaos.

As reporters arrived on the scene, forensic experts were spotted conducting their investigation within the sealed-off area, with access to most of the street barred to the public while enquiries are conducted, the Liverpool Echo reported

Residents living behind the cordon were turned away, and motorists were told to divert due to the serious ongoing crime investigation. CSI teams were seen working into the night at the site on a quiet terraced street, while officers carried out door-to-door enquiries.

High visibility patrols are also being conducted to reassure shocked Bootle residents. Detective Inspector Keith Swift, said: "An investigation into the full circumstances of this incident is ongoing, however, we do believe it was a targeted attack.

"I would appeal to anyone who may have seen anyone acting suspiciously in the area around Owen Road shortly before, or after the incident, to contact us. Information they have could be vital."

One neighbour, who asked not to be named, told the ECHO: "I got home at 6.30pm and all the police were here. A little girl was in one of the front gardens when they fired the gun. No one was hurt.

"Police have blocked off the road and no one can get in or out.."

Another woman who lives on the road said she was out when it happened but was told by another neighbour how they "heard gunshots", and another man said he saw armed police when he looked out the window while at home.

He said: "There was armed police here. I was completely oblivious to it. I was washing the dishes and looking after my little one when it actually happened but then armed police arrived."

Another woman, living on Derby Road, said: "I'm so shocked, I was in most of the afternoon and heard nothing. I have been living here for 15 years and never seen anything like this on the road before."

Anyone with information is asked to DM @merpolcc, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, quoting reference 0788 of 4 April.