FOUR men have been arrested and a man is being treated for gunshot wounds after shots were fired from two cars that were driven at high speed around residential estates.

The drama unfolded shortly after 6pm last night and resulted in a VW Passat pulling up outside Accident & Emergency at Whiston Hospital carrying a man who had been shot.

The 24-year-old passenger had suffered serious injuries to his back, shoulder and elbow and remains in a critical but stable condition at another hospital in the region. 

Detectives last night confirmed the occupants of two cars were seen shooting at each other while driving erratically and at high speed around the residential area at Copperwood Drive, Whiston.

Police confirmed the VW Passat is believed to have been one of the cars involved.

Detectives are treating the shooting as a targeted incident between two criminal factions and are hunting for the other car involved and its occupants. 

Officers arrested three men who they suspected of being on board the Passat and a fourth man nearby a short time later. 

A 20-year-old who suffered superficial injuries was held along with another 20-year-old man and a 21-year-old man.

All three men are from Whiston and have been arrested on suspicion of firearms offences. 

A fourth man aged 17 from Huyton was arrested a short time later also at the hospital as a result of further police enquiries. 

Patrols have been stepped up and a highly-visible police presence will remain in the area this weekend following the incident in Copperwood Drive. 

An extensive police investigation led by the force’s Matrix Serious Organised Crime Unit and supported by Knowsley neighbourhood officers and other specialist teams is now underway. 

Assistant Chief Constable Ian Pilling said local residents could expect a reassuring police presence in their community this weekend. 

He said: “What these two groups of criminals did was reckless in the extreme and it is only by luck that no innocent bystanders were hurt. 

“The local community has my absolute assurances that significant resources are being used to identify all the individuals involved and bring them to justice. 

“My officers were quickly on the scene following reports of gunfire between two cars and I’m pleased to say that four men have been arrested and will be interviewed in due course. 

“One of the cars involved in this extremely serious incident has been seized and we are examining every inch of it for evidence that will help this investigation. 

“People who witnessed this incident or have heard about it since will understandable be shocked, appalled and worried that it could happen in their own community. 

“I want to reassure them that they will see a large and highly-visible police presence this weekend and those officers will be there to address any concerns they might have.

“We are treating this as a targeted attack involving two factions who are clearly in dispute and they have brought violence to the streets of a peaceful community. 

“We will relentlessly pursue criminals who use guns and violence to settle criminal disputes and intimidate or harm other people but we need the public’s help. 

“If you have any information at all that can help the police investigation, please call our gun crime hotline on 0800 230 0600 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”

Parts of Copperwood Drive and Cumber Lane have been cordoned off to allow a full forensic search to take place during daylight on Saturday. 

Detectives are keeping an open mind regarding a BMW car found on fire in Domville shortly before the firearms incident, however it is not believed to be the other car involved. 

Last night's report

 

FOUR people have been arrested after a man arrived at Whiston Hopsital with gunshot injuries tonight.

The man, aged in his 20s, arrived at the hospital shortly after 6pm in car, reportedly a black VW Passat.

The man's injuries are serious but not life threatening, say police.

Officers are reportedly investigating reports two cars were being driven erratically and at speed in the moments before the Passat arrived at the hospital.

Police forensic teams are currently poring over several crime scenes in Whiston, including the Passat, which is behind a cordon near the hospital's A&E department.

A police statement read: "Merseyside Police can confirm that four people have been arrested after a man arrived at hospital in Whiston with gunshot injuries.
 
"The man, who is aged in his 20s, arrived at the hospital in a car and was found to have injuries which have been assessed as serious but not life threatening.
 
"All the occupants of the car were arrested at the scene and are in police custody at this time.
 
"An investigation into how the man came about his injuries is underway.
 
"Officers are investigating reports that two cars were seen speeding in the Whiston area in the minutes leading up to the victim attending hospital.
 
"Anyone with information that could help the police investigation, which is in its very early stages, is asked to call the gun crime hotline on 0800 230 0600."