TWO GUNNED DOWN IN WEEKEND SLAYINGS

17-03-2008

Two men have been gunned down in separate incidents in the West Midlands over the weekend. The latest victim, thought to be in his 20’s was killed in Newtown last night - this follows Saturday’s fatal shooting in Wolverhampton.

Police were called to an address in Rodway Close, at the junction with New Croft, Newtown at 9.45pm yesterday, following reports of shots being heard.

Officers attended and a male was found with gunshot wounds. He was taken to hospital where he later died.

The man has yet to be formally identified and the immediate area around Rodway Close was cordoned off this morning while enquiries were made at the scene.

Investigations are also continuing into a shooting which claimed the life of a 26-year old man in the early hours of Saturday at the Bagot Arms Pub in Newhampton Road West, Whitmore Reans, Wolverhampton.

The double killings come less than week after Home Secretary Jacqui Smith attended the launch of a new gun crime initiative at West Mids Police HQ in Birmingham.

NABIS – the National Ballistics Intelligence Programme - is a new database which allows for a faster exchange of data about shooting incidents around the country.