UPDATED: Police and council meet after 16-year-old is shot dead (From Messenger Newspapers)

News RSS Feed Send your news, pictures & videos

Police believe Giuseppe Gregory was not gunmen's intended target

10:20am Thursday 14th May 2009 in News By Hannah Al-Taraboulsy

Robin Hood Pub, Stretford.

A CRUNCH meeting took place as Messenger went to press after a 16-year-old school boy was shot dead in what police believe was a case of mistaken identity.

Trafford councillors and police discussed the ongoing problem of anti-social behaviour outside the Robin Hood pub, on Barton Road, where Giuseppe Gregory, from Ardwick, was shot on Sunday at 11.50pm. He died on Monday at 2.30am at Trafford General Hospital.

Police now believe Giuseppe was not the intended target, but that the gunmen were shooting indiscriminately at the VW Golf he and his friends were in as they left the pub car park.

Several casings were recovered from the scene and one of the bullets fired went through the window of a nearby house.

Before the shooting, three masked men had gone into the pub and were seeen to leave about a minute later.

A Greater Manchester Police (GMP) spokesperson confirmed police were looking at CCTV footage of three men wearing balaclavas.

We want to work with police and the owners of the pub, which has a good reputation and is a friendly, well-run place, to try and eradicate future problems. I think people were very shocked that the shooting happened there

Related links

Leave your tributes here

Cllr Steve Adshead

Cllr Steve Adshead explained he had already received complaints about disturbances after the pub’s weekly Sunday night discos, but insisted Stretford was still a safe place to be.

He said: “We’ve previously had complaints about disturbances in the pub car park after the Sunday night events and have been to the licensing committee about it.

“We want to work with police and the owners of the pub, which has a good reputation and is a friendly, well-run place, to try and eradicate future problems. I think people were very shocked that the shooting happened there.

“I want people to know we are on top of this and that we have their best interests at heart. We want to be able to relay the outcome of the meeting with the community to reassure them.”

Ch Supt Janette McCormick, said: “The community has been shocked by this murder which has also, of course, left a family totally devastated.

“Giuseppe was only 16. We’re very much focused on finding out who’s done this and what the motive is.

“This pub holds a music event every Sunday night. There are people who attend it regularly. It’s those people who go week-in, week-out who may know who is behind this.”

Robin Hood landlady Paula Gray, 44, said: “I was upstairs sorting out the till when I heard four or five gunshots. I looked out of the window and saw two men running away so I called the police and then we locked the pub doors.

“Earlier on three men had run into the pub as if they were looking for someone.”

GMP confirmed Giuseppe’s mum had received a letter of concern from police prior to her son’s death.

In November 2008 the family became aware that Giueseppe had been targeted by the intervention team and had been identified as being at risk of becoming involved in gang culture.

Giuseppe was referred to Manchester Multi Agency Gang Strategy and had been attending meetings and engaging with his key worker.

It is understood that Giuseppe had survived a shooting at the age of 13. In addition he had been arrested on suspicion of possessing heroin with intent to supply. No further action was taken so his bail was cancelled.

Mum Samantha Lewis, 36, said: "Giuseppe was my loving and beautiful son who was taken away from me before he had chance to fully experience life.

"He had a big personality and was loved by all who knew him. Friends looked up to him, family adored him and he will be sadly missed by all.”

Dad, James Gregory, 37, said: "To my son, whose life was taken away from us. Friends and family and members of the community are all grieving over your sad loss, Giuseppe.”

Police are now appealing for witnesses of the shooting to come forward. They want to know the movements of the green Golf Giuseppe was travelling in, with the registration MT08 MXY.

They would also like to hear from anyone who saw a silver Honda Accord private hire taxi, with the registration V797 LCP.

Three men, aged 18, 20 and 22, were arrested on suspicion of murder. The 22-year-old has now been released on bail until July 13 pending further inquiries.

The other two have been released without charge and are being treated as witnesses.

The MP for Stretford and Urmston, Bev Hughes, said: "I share the concerns that local people will have about this incident and Ch Supt McCormick is keeping me fully briefed.

“It is important the police continue to do all they can to reassure the community and target gang members accordingly.”

Giuseppe’s death is the first fatal shooting in Greater Manchester in 15 months and comes after members of the Gooch gang were jailed last month following trial.

Anyone with any information is asked to call police on 0161 856 2025 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

Comments(37)

Milorni says...
11:04am Mon 11 May 09

Awful news. Hope they shut this nuisance pub down now. The trouble caused locally from here is a nightmare. The car park is used by dealers constantly, there's always brawling and shouting and local residents have to put up with criminal damage to cars and property. Come on Trafford, close it down.