A man was shot in the buttocks in the car park of a Wirral rugby club.
The attack came to light when a man in his 20s was dropped off at Arrowe Park hospital with a non-life-threatening gunshot injury to his buttock shortly before 11pm last night (Friday).
It later emerged he was targeted at Wallasey RUFC car park, in Cross Lane, off Leasowe Road.
Forensic, witness and CCTV enquiries are underway and a van believed to have been used to drop the victim at hospital was found and forensically recovered.
Detective Inspector Paula Furlong said: "These are the early stages of our investigation, and we're keen to hear from anyone who saw or heard this incident, which we believe happened at around 10.30pm near to Wallasey rugby club.
"Your information, dashcam, CCTV or other footage could be key as we piece together the events of last night.
"We understand the fear that gun crime causes and I'd like to assure people in the community that we think this was a targeted attack, one which we're thoroughly investigating.
"The number of shootings in Merseyside has significantly decreased in the last 18 months and it's due, in no small part, to what people tell us in those areas affected.
"We continue to regularly seize weapons and arrest suspects connected to these incidents.
"We will act on all information provided on gun crime to remove weapons and those who use them from the community. Please come forward with what you know, directly or anonymously, and we will do the rest."
Anyone with information on this incident is asked to contact Merseyside Police social media desk via Twitter @MerPolCC or Facebook Merseyside Police CC with reference 21000392080.
You can also call 101 or contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously, on 0800 555 111 or via their online form here.
