A pet dog was killed and a man was wounded when a masked gunman walked up to a home and opened fire through a letterbox, say police.
The 36-year-old victim was outside the house in Anfield, Liverpool, but ran inside when two men - wearing balaclavas and gloves - approached late Tuesday night.
One of the men had pulled out a gun and then fired through the letterbox, hitting the man in the leg and also the dog, at about 10.30pm.
The dog died a short time later and the man was being treated by paramedics inside the home when Merseyside Police officers arrived.
He was taken to hospital to be treated for gunshot wounds to his leg.
The suspects ran away from the scene, and no-one has been arrested.
The motive for the attack is not known, said police.
Officers have been going house-to-house to speak to possible witnesses, and are looking for CCTV of the suspects.
Forensics officers were at the scene on Wednesday morning.
DI Paul Speight said: "The investigation is in its early stages and motive for the attack is currently unknown and detectives are working to establish the full circumstances leading up to the incident.
"I would appeal to anyone who may have been in the area at the time of the incident, or who witnesses anyone acting suspiciously in the area shortly before the attack to come forward.
"We are also interested in anyone who may have been in the area of Ripon Street and saw two males running towards Goodison Road shortly after 10.30pm.
"If you were driving and have a dashcam camera please check to see if you have picked anything up on the camera as it may be helpful to our inquiries and could assist us in identifying the offenders."
