A 23-year-old has been shot dead in Birmingham this afternoon as two men aged 20 and 19 remain in hospital.

Emergency services scrambled to St Vincent Street West in Ladywood, following the fatal shooting of the unidentified man at around 5pm.

The other two men are being treated with non-life threatening injuries.

A 23-year-old has been shot dead in Birmingham this afternoon as two men aged 20 and 19 remain in hospital

Emergency services scrambled to St Vincent Street West in Ladywood, following the fatal shooting of the unidentified man at around 5pm

It is the 15th homicide of the year within the West Midlands Police area

A 58-year-old man who has lived in the area all his life told BirminghamLive that he 'heard what sounded like six gun shots'.

Another witness said officers were 'everywhere' amid reports that a helicopter was also deployed by West Midlands Police force.

Onlookers were said to be in tears at the scene as a sombre crowd gathered at the police cordon.

Police at the scene. The other two men are being treated with non-life threatening injuries

A 58-year-old man said that he 'heard what sounded like six gun shots'

Police forensics officers investigate the scene after a man was shot in Ladywood, Birmingham

Patrols have been stepped up in the surrounding area and the road has been sealed off, police said.

No arrests have been made and police enquiries are on-going. The man's family have been informed, officers said.

St Vincent Street is near both Arena Birmingham (formerly the National Indoor Arena) as well as Brindleyplace - home to many pubs and restaurants.

Enquiries into the circumstances around the incident continue and anyone with information is asked to call 101 quoting log number 1754 of 7 May.

Crimestoppers can be called anonymously on 0800 555 111.