Ashley Dale: Two people arrested after fatal shooting of council worker in Liverpool
The 28-year-old was found with gunshot wounds in her garden in the Old Swan area and was taken to hospital where she was pronounced dead.
Thursday 25 August 2022 14:58, UK
A man and a woman have been arrested following the fatal shooting of council worker Ashley Dale in Liverpool.
The 28-year-old was found with gunshot wounds in her garden in the Old Swan area on Sunday and was taken to hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Merseyside Police said the man has been arrested on suspicion of murder, while the woman has been arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender.
Detectives investigating the killing previously released CCTV footage of a car being driven in the area, shortly before the incident was reported.
Authorities say they do not believe Ms Dale was the intended target of the attack.
A cordon remains in place while investigations continue, and CCTV and forensic enquiries are being carried out in the local area.
Her death is part of a spate of violence seen in Merseyside.
Just a day after Ms Dale was killed, Olivia Pratt-Korbel was shot dead by a masked attacker while inside her home in Kingsheath Avenue, in the Dovecot area of the city.
Sam Rimmer, 20, was also killed on 16 August - the first of the three fatal shootings in a seven-day period.
Mr Rimmer, from Bootle, was on Lavrock Bank with a group of friends when two electric bikes were driven into the cul-de-sac. A number of shots were fired towards the group at 11.40pm.
Three arrests have been made, but they have since been released on bail.
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15 years after the murder of Rhys Jones, Merseyside's summer of violence leaves a trail of bloodshed
'A callous attack' that left a family heartbroken
Ashley's family paid tribute to their "shining light" and said "our hearts are broken into a million pieces".
Following the arrest of two people, detective chief inspector Cath Cummings said: "Our thoughts remain with Ashley Dale's family and friends following this appalling incident which led to her tragic death.
"Our officers have now made two arrests last night. Enquiries continue to establish the motive behind this attack and identify all those involved.
"This was a callous attack carried out on a residential street which has brought tragedy to the heart of a community in Merseyside, and we will leave no stone unturned in our efforts to bring those responsible to justice.
"Although we have made two arrests we still need members of the public to come forward with information too, so we can keep our streets safe.
"From extensive ongoing CCTV enquiries, Detectives know there were people walking close to the scene at the time of the offence. If this was you, please come forward as you may without realising hold vital information to assist this investigation.
"Similarly, I would ask taxi and delivery drivers if they were driving in the area between 12.20am and 12.40am and have dashcam footage please contact us."
Information can be submitted through the directly to the police.
Alternatively, you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously, on 0800 555 111 or via their online form at: .