These eerie photographs show forensic investigators combing the scene after a teenage boy was shot in the stomach last night.
Emergency services were called to Station Road in Prescot, shortly before 5pm, to reports of a shooting.
The 17-year-old victim was left bleeding in the street before a passerby reportedly took him to hospital.
A major police presence was visible around the scene last night and the road was closed off.
Today a Merseyside Police spokeswoman confirmed the boy had been shot in the abdomen and remains in a stable condition in hospital.
The images show specialist investigators combing the pavement for evidence, outside a house on the road, which is cordoned off by police tape.
Detectives are appealing for information that could assist in locating the attacker.
The force said: "Detectives are appealing for information following the injury shooting of a teenager in Prescot this afternoon, Monday 20 January.
"At 4.50pm, emergency services were called to Station Road to the report of a 17-year-old male being shot.
"He was taken to hospital for assessment of his injuries, which are not initially believed to be life-threatening.
"Officers are carrying out CCTV, witness and forensic enquiries at the scene and a cordon is in place at the location."
Detective Inspector Leanne Hobin said: "These are the very early stages of our investigation, so it's vital that we gather information as soon as possible, to establish the exact circumstances and who was involved.
"At this time of day, there will have been people in the area who could have easily been injured or worse, some of whom may have witnessed what happened.
"Pass on any information, including home or business CCTV or dashcam, and we will take action.
"Action in recent weeks and months has brought down the number of shootings on our streets, and key to this is information from those communities affected."
You can contact us directly via @MerPolCC, by calling 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or report online at https://crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information/forms/give-information-anonymously.
