Lad, 7, and mum shot on doorstep

A SEVEN-YEAR-OLD lad and his mum have been shot in the doorway of their home.

The mother,29, and son were wounded in the legs in the attack which is believed to be linked to gangs in Salford, Greater Manchester.

The shootings have been described locally as a “punishment-style” attack - but the victims’ injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.

Neighbours described hearing a “popping sound” at around 9.30pm last night.
One said: “We heard two shots. We heard ‘pop, pop’ and that was it.

“It is too close to home. We’ve lived here 24 years and we’ve never had a problem.”

Police at the scene last night Ross Parry

Another said: “I heard two bangs at 9.30pm. At first I dismissed it as fireworks. Then I saw loads of police and two ambulances on the street.

“It’s not like that around here. It’s a nice area.

”Detective Superintendent Joanne Rawlinson said: “This is a truly shocking set of circumstances in which a young boy and a woman have been injured after they were shot at by a gunman at their home.

“This incident has only just happened, but there is a huge police effort under way to investigate this attack and find those responsible.

”DS Rawlinson said police do not know the motive behind the incident, and appealed for anyone with information to come forward.

Today one local dropping his children off at St Gilbert’s RC Primary School nearby said: “It is frightening if you have children. There was a shooting on Sutherland Street not far from here not long ago.

A large police presence remains at the scene Mercury

“It’s frightening that kids are being caught in the crossfire of what’s going on in Salford.

”The resident said the area was a “nice enclave” in Salford with the city’s best schools close by.

A heavy police presence remained in the area with the street cordoned off while forensic officers continue their work.

Police said it is not yet clear if the attack is linked to a number of others in the Salford and Bolton areas at the weekend.

On Saturday afternoon a man was shot in the stomach in Bolton and later that night a house in the town and another in Salford were fired at.

The spate of attacks comes as a £50,000 reward was offered for information on the murder of Salford “Mr Big” Paul Massey.

As murder squad detectives revealed the reward in a nationwide appeal for information on BBC’s Crimewatch on Monday night, the latest attack was being launched, shortly after 9.25pm on Gillingham Road in the Winton area of the city.

Salford has suffered a series of shootings since Massey, 55, was gunned down outside his home in the city on July 26.

Detective Chief Inspector Howard Millington of GMP, appearing on Crimewatch, said the £50,000 reward was for information leading to the conviction of those responsible.

The victim, a father of five, was a well-known figure in his home city of Salford, and had been involved in security firms operating in Manchester and beyond.

Police and local political leaders are to hold a press conference about the shootings later today.