A Liverpool man was shot dead by a notorious gunman during a gang feud, it has been claimed.
Paul Pike, 23, died after he was shot at traffic lights by the Liver Pub in Waterloo on a summer's night 11 years ago.
The killers pulled up alongside the Belle Vale man's red van in an Audi TT at the lights on Crosby Road North.
READ MORE: CCTV released as detectives hunt gunmen whose shots 'could have hit children'
A gun man then opened fire riddling Paul's van with bullets. The stolen Audi is thought to have driven off and then made a second run past the van when more shots were fired. Paul died at the scene.
The incident bore all the hallmarks of a targeted shooting carried out by professional criminals.
The killers torched the Audi in the Fairfield area and fled. They remain at large.
The ECHO has spoken to a number of trusted sources about the killing and can now reveal that:
- A notorious gunman from south Liverpool is said to have carried out the shooting
- The gunman in question has been a major problem for the force over recent years
- Paul Pike was shot dead as part of a simmering feud between two well known south Liverpool crime groups which claimed three lives in the past
- Shortly before he was targeted a well known man was shot at outside the Falcon pub in Netherley. There are claims he was shot in the leg.
- Paul Pike was blamed by a rival group for the shooting although the ECHO has not seen any evidence to suggest he was involved
- The shooting outside the Falcon pub was part of a protracted dispute between two south Liverpool crime groups which dates back the early 2000s
- The driver of the Audi who assisted the gunman on the night of the Waterloo shooting is also a notorious individual , well known to police.
- There is a climate of fear around the crime group behind Paul Pike's death.
A police officer who was at the scene of the murder on June 5 2010 told the ECHO that Paul's partner was very lucky to have survived the shooting with only minor cuts caused by flying glass.
The shooting is thought to have been witnessed by drinkers who were stood outside the Liver pub at the time.
Police have made several arrests in relation to the murder investigation but are yet to bring charges. Paul was known to police at the time of his death.
In 2011 a man and woman from Toxteth were jailed for five years each after they were linked to a Glock handgun used to shoot Paul Pike. The man and woman were not thought to have played any role in the shooting.
A police spokesman said to the ECHO : "Anyone with information is asked to contact Merseyside Police social media desk via Twitter @MerPolCC or ‘Merseyside Police Contact Centre’ on Facebook, with reference 0510065787.
"You can also call 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously, on 0800 555 111 or via their online form at: https://crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information/give-information."
