Police appeal over man's shooting

Police have appealed to the friends of a 28-year-old man who died in hospital after a shooting to come forward with information.

Edward Gibson died from the injuries he sustained after the shooting in west Belfast yesterday evening, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said.

Detective Chief Inspector Justyn Galloway, Serious Crime Branch, said that at around 5pm a number of shots were reported in the area of Clonfadden Crescent and Divis Court.

Mr Gibson was taken to hospital but died.

Mr Galloway said: “We are linking an incident which occurred in Albert Street approximately half an hour before the shooting, where we believe an altercation involving a number of males has taken place.

“My appeal today is to people who were in the laneway in Divis Tower at 5pm and who saw the shooting or heard the shots to come forward and speak to detectives.

“I am also appealing to anyone in the Albert Street area at 4.30pm who witnessed the altercation to come forward and I am making a particular appeal to Edward’s friends and associates to come forward and speak to detectives and provide us with the information we need to identify and bring the persons responsible before the courts.”

Detectives have arrested two men aged 33 and 30, and a female aged 31 in connection with the incident.

The 30-year-old man arrested was also treated in hospital for stab wounds believed to have been sustained in a related incident, police said.

Detectives can be contacted at Musgrave on 101 or alternatively information can be passed anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Police appeal over man's shooting