Handsworth shooting: Families enjoy sun as man gunned down

Apr 20 2009 By Mark Cowan and Christina Savvas

A MAN was shot dead in a broad daylight attack in a quiet Birmingham street as families enjoyed the spring sunshine.

The 20-year-old victim was gunned down in Uplands Street, Handsworth, yesterday afternoon.

He was found lying under a car by passers-by, who at first thought he was carrying out repairs to the vehicle. They raised the alarm after discovering he had received gunshot wound to the chest.

Paramedics battled to keep him alive as he was to taken to hospital, but doctors could not save him.

Murder squad detectives said they were keeping an “open mind” over a motive for the killing but were investigating all possibilities, including whether it was gang-related or the result of some other fall-out.

It is the first fatal shooting in Birmingham for eight months.

The victim’s mother and other relatives have been traced and were today being supported by police family liaison officers.

The alarm was raised shortly before 1pm yesterday when several calls were made to emergency services from passer-by and residents in the street. A mum-of-seven, who didn’t want to be named said: “I heard the helicopter and police sirens.