Appeal to identify 'vital' witnesses after Skelmersdale shooting leaves three men injured

Three men were injured following a shooting at a property in Belfield at around 1.30pm on October 15, 2019.

The men, aged 21, 45 and 46, were taken to hospital for treatment and are continuing to recover from their injuries.

Thomas Anderson, 21, of no fixed address, has been charged with three offences of attempted murder and of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.

He appeared at Preston Magistrates’ Court in December 2019.

Detectives now want to identify five people who were in the area before and at the time of the shooting.

Det Insp Steve Monk, of Lancashire Police, said: "We are appealing for information to help identify these individuals.

"I must stress we believe they could help with our enquiries and they are not being treated as suspects.

"If you are pictured, or you recognise one of the people pictured, please come forward and contact police immediately."

Police would like to identify the five people pictured:

- Person one is a man who was man walking in the Belfield area at around 12.40pm.

They are described as a white male with dark hair and dark coloured facial hair.

He was wearing a dark jacket, grey sweatpants, socks and sliders.

- Person two is a man who was walking in the area at around 12.59pm. Police believe they may be a delivery driver

They are described as a white male, of large build with a beard.

He was wearing a dark coloured Under Armour baseball cap, orange hoodie, hi vis jacket, dark-coloured sweat pants and dark coloured trainers with three white stripes.

- Person three is a woman who was walking in the area at around 1.23pm.

They are described as a while female with blonde hair which may have been tied up at the back.

She was wearing a dark green/grey jacket with hood, blue jeans and blue pumps with white soles.

She was also carrying a brown coloured handbag in her left hand and was wearing a black lanyard with white writing around her neck.

- Person four is a man who was in the area at around 1.38pm.

They are described as a white male with dark hair and a beard.

They were wearing a blue hooded jacket, grey jogging bottoms, sliders and socks.

- Person five was in the area at around 1.17.

They are described as a white female with blonde hair.

She was wearing a multi-coloured top, black leggings, white trainers, and was carrying a large carrier bag in her right hand.

Anyone with information can contact police by calling 101 or emailing [email protected], quoting log number LC-20200511-0374.

Alternatively, independent charity Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org.