Update: Police patrols stepped up after shooting in Walton
Investigations continuing after reports that a man with a handgun shot at a white van
Police patrols have been stepped up in Walton as detectives continue to investigate a firearms discharge on Rice Lane yesterday morning, Wednesday 2 June. No-one is believed to have been injured in the incident but officers are investigating reports that a man with a handgun shot at the occupants of a small white van as it waited in traffic at around 11am. The white van was then driven off towards Hornby Road while the offender walked in the opposite direction, possibly getting into a silver-coloured Vauxhall Vectra. Detectives from the force's Matrix Serious Organised Crime unit are leading the investigation and want to hear from anyone with information about either of the two vehicles. Detective Inspector Colin Rennison from MSOC said: "This incident happened in broad daylight on a busy main road with lots of people around. We still have not had anyone come forward having been injured but we are treating this as a confirmed firearms incident having recovered evidence at the scene. "The use of firearms on the streets of Merseyside will not be tolerated by the police or the communities we serve and I would appeal for anyone with information to come forward. "I am keen to hear from anyone who saw a silver or grey Vauxhall Vectra or similar car driving away from Rice Lane just after 11am or who knows where a car like that is now. I also want to trace the white van that has been targeted in this incident. It was driven off at high speed towards Hornby Road and may have attracted attention. "It is only through sheer good fortune that no-one has been injured. People were going about their daily business, it is the school holidays and the reckless, criminal actions of these offenders have put their own community at risk. We will be relentless in our pursuit of people involved in gun crime and I would urge the community to tell us who is involved and where these firearms are so that we can take action." Call the Matrix gun crime hotline on 0800 230 0600 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.