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A 50th birthday party descended into violence last night when a man was shot in the leg inside a busy pub.

Residents described hearing "commotion" at The Swan pub, on Kingsway, Huyton , at around 11.30pm last night.

Merseyside Police said the 29-year-old victim "self-presented" at hospital with a gunshot wound to his thigh and is refusing to co-operate with detectives.

The force slammed the gunman for opening fire in the function room, which was "full of people," and detectives are examining CCTV and speaking to party-goers.

A spokeswoman said the suspect is described as a white male, approximately 5ft 7in tall, and is believed to be in his 20s.

(Image: Liverpool Echo)

He was wearing a navy blue bubble jacket with the hood pulled up, black tracksuit bottoms and a balaclava.

The ECHO understands The Swan, which has a large function suite, was hosting both a Halloween party and a birthday party for a local man last night.

One man, who lives nearby, said: "I was drinking in there last night but I left around 11. I heard a load of shouting so I stepped outside, and I heard someone saying 'he's been shot, he's been shot'.

"I just thought f*** that and went back inside. I couldn't see who was saying it because it was pitch black.

"There didn't seem to be any problems when I was in there, it was busy, I haven't seen it like that for a while."

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Detective Chief Inspector Siobhan Gainer, of Merseyside Police, said: "This incident took place at a 50th birthday party in the function room of a local pub at about 11.34pm.

"The offender had no regard for other people in that room and we are speaking to those who were in attendance in a bid to find out why this happened.



"At this moment in time the victim is refusing to co-operate with us and I would urge him to change his mind.

"The offender involved in this incident needs to be taken off the streets and put before the courts, he was prepared to fire a weapon in a room full of people and didn't care about the consequences.





"I can reassure the local community that we will be doing everything in our power to find the person responsible. We are relentless in our pursuit of those involved in gun crime.

"Yesterday officers stopped a car on Bowring Park Road and arrested four men following the recovery of a handgun, those men are still being questioned by detectives."

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"At the end of last week 22 people were sentenced to more than 300 years in prison after making the lives of the decent people of Speke a misery through the use of firearms and violence to support their trade in drugs.

"Following the arrest of those individuals violent crime, firearm discharges and anti-social behaviour has decreased significantly and local community groups have pulled together to provide much needed facilities and opportunities for the decent people who live in the area.





"We are committed to tackling gun crime, but we can't do it on our own. We need people from the community who may have any information which could help us to contact us. Any information provided will be acted upon. Help us to put this person where he belongs - behind bars. If you have any information at all, which may help us piece together the evidence we require, please call."

A local business owner described hearing what sounded like an angry argument around an hour before the shooting, and hearing a group running down Kingsway away from the junction with Rupert Road.

He said: "The police were in this morning wanting to look at the CCTV and they said it was a gunshot. The guy was shot in the leg."

One woman, who has lived in the area for more than 50 years, expressed her shock at the incident.

She said: "I went to bed at about 11, but not long after I heard a load of commotion. I just thought it was people arguing because it's a pub.

"I have lived here 55 years and it's the first time I have heard of a shooting in this part of the area.

"I just hope the person who was shot is OK."

Anyone with information is asked to contact, @MerPolCC quoting reference number 1089 of 26 October, or @CrimestoppersUK anonymously on 0800 555 111. You can also use their online form at https://crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information/give-information-online