A 58-year-old man shot multiple times at close range in Newry was “essentially ambushed” and “executed” by perpetrators who lay in wait.
The man – who has not been identified at this stage on the request of his family – was gunned down in a “reckless” attack in the Ardcarn Park area of the city at around 6pm on Thursday evening.
Superintendent Norman Haslett described it as “a brutal and senseless attack on a defenceless man”.
He added: “We believe those responsible went to great lengths to plan this attack and they lay in wait for their victim to come home and they essentially ambushed him and executed him.
“The victim was a husband, he was a father and he was a son and he was shot multiple times at close range. The levels of violence used was reprehensible particularly given the time of day; tea time on a weeknight in a busy residential area of Newry where people were coming home from their work and children and families going about their business on the run up to Christmas.
“It was beyond reckless. Any child, or family member or neighbour could have easily been caught up in the gun fire. Indeed, after the attack the victim’s car crashed into a nearby property. Those responsible had no thought whatsoever for the victim, for his family, or the local community. They have no moral compass and I would condemn their actions in the strongest possible terms.
“They have left a grieving family in the mouth of Christmas, they have left a community in shock at this time.”
Supt. Haslett appealed to the public for help and assured them that he will be stepping up police presence in area in days and weeks ahead.
“We are very much aware of the tangible fear and concern the community would have in that particular area of Newry,” he added. “The community don’t deserve to be in this position.”
Supt. Haslett also confirmed that the victim was linked to a shooting incident in the Dundalk area in recent weeks.
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