Man is shot in the street

May 25 2007 By Steve Johnson, Birmingham Mail

A MAN was shot as he ran for his life when a gunman opened fire in a Smethwick street.

The victim suffered gunshot wounds to his hand and arm as fled the gunman yesterday in Middlemore Road, near to the West Bromwich Albion Hawthorns stadium.

Det Insp Paul Homer, of Smethwick CID, said the 24-year-old victim was lucky to be alive. He said that at least five shots were fired and the victim had been fortunate to escape with relatively minor injuries.

"There was an argument in the street and suddenly a man pulled a handgun. The victim was literally running for his life, being chased by the gunman, and he was lucky that some of the shots missed him," he added.

Mr Homer said that the drama unfolded at 12.40pm yesterday outside a garage.

"There was an argument between the victim and three men inside the garage. The dispute moved outside and then violence flared and shots were fired. The man suffered injuries which were not life-threatening but has been detained in hospital overnight.

"We could easily have been looking at a murder here if the gunman had been more accurate with his shots," he added.

The three men involved were said to be black, all in their late teens or early 20s.

They were all wearing dark clothing and one of the three was wearing a hooded top.

Det Insp Homer said it appeared to have been an isolated incident but police were anxious to speak to anyone who may have seen anything suspicious in the area.

Anyone with information can contact Smethwick CID on 0845 1135000 or the confidential Crimestoppers hotline on 0800 555111.