A boy of 16 who was shot dead on a canal towpath in Liverpool died from a single gunshot wound to his back, a post-mortem has found.
Lewis Dunne was found on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal in Eldonian Village in the Vauxhall areas of the city at about 11.10pm on Sunday.
He was treated by paramedics after being given first aid by members of the public and taken to the Royal Liverpool University Hospital, where he later died.
Detectives have launched a murder investigation and are urging any witnesses to step forward with information. Police underwater teams were yesterday searching the canal for clues.
Assistant Chief Constable Ian Pilling of Merseyside Police said as the investigation was launched yesterday: “It is difficult to imagine what Lewis’s mother and father are going through at this moment in time.
“I believe someone, somewhere knows who has done this, and would ask them to search their conscience and do the right thing.
“Your information could help us make significant progress in this inquiry.”
Mr Pilling would not comment on claims that a “gang fight” had taken place. The towpath was cordoned off yesterday and extra uniformed patrols have been deployed to the area. Forensic investigators were also at the scene.
Detectives carried out house-to-house inquires in streets near the scene of the shooting, off Burrows Court.
The canal is the boundary of a low-rise housing association estate bordering the dockland area.
Detectives are also examining CCTV footage from the surrounding area. Neighbours in Eldonian Village, which is to the north of Liverpool city centre, yesterday said Lewis was a “very kind kid”. A relative of the teenager said on social media: “I love you so much.”
Mr Pilling described the boy’s death as a “tragic fatal shooting”.
He added: “There is no place for firearms. We need members of the public to come forward with information so we can keep our streets safe.”
