Man seriously injured in second Black Country shooting in two days
A man has been seriously injured in the second Black Country shooting in two days
The man, in his 20s, is in a serious but stable condition in hospital after being shot in the arm and neck at around 10.30pm last night.
He was found in a Vauxhall car with a smashed-out window in Upper High Street, Cradley Heath, where he is believed to have driven to after being shot elsewhere.
West Midlands Police believe the shooting was a targeted attack and have launched an investigation.
It is the second gun attack in two days after bullets were fired towards City of Wolverhampton College in Paget Road on Monday. Nobody was injured in that incident.
A stretch of Upper High Street next to Saver Express remained cordoned off this morning, with the damaged burgundy Vauxhall behind police tape.
Ian Macey, who lives on High Street, was alerted to the incident around 4.30am when Saver Express called him to ask about the shop.
The 46-year-old said: "I've never seen anything like this happen around here. There have been incidents in the years I've lived around here, but nothing like this.
"It's pretty terrifying to think that someone used a firearm with blatant disregard for life. Obviously, the guy was fuelled on adrenaline and tried to get away from the scene, but it's pretty awful
"I do feel less safe because of this as crime seems to be on the rise and it's very worrying."
John Plant, owner of D.P. Ironcraft, said: "I heard a noise last night and looked outside to see my neighbour trying to help the guy out of the car. He ended up covered in blood and had to go to hospital afterwards
"It's pretty horrific what has happened as I took a video of the aftermath and there were police cars and other vehicles here.
"It does make you feel unsafe because of what happened and I would describe it as 'lock up your family' time"
Mohammed Hafiz, 60, who owns Prime Keys added: "I heard about it this morning after my nephew called me while he was taking the kids to school and said he'd seen the police outside my office and told me someone had been shot.
"I'm just shocked as nothing like that has ever happened around here. It's usually really quiet and it's the first time I've seen it.
"It's just really sad and shocking and I do feel really unsafe because it's not far from the front of my office, so I really do think something needs to be done about this"
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A West Midlands Police spokesman said: "We are appealing for information after a man was shot and seriously injured in Cradley Heath.
"He was found in a car in Upper High Street just after 10.30pm on Tuesday, September 29.
"The man in his 20s was taken to hospital with arm and neck injuries and remains in a serious but stable condition.
"It is believed this was a targeted attack and the man initially drove away from the scene of the shooting.
"We are working to establish the exact location and circumstances around the shooting, and are appealing for anyone with information to contact us."
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman added: "We were called at 10.30pm on Tuesday night to Upper High Street, Cradley Heath.
"An ambulance, two paramedic officers, a MERIT trauma doctor and critical care paramedic were sent to scene and found a man in a car with serious injuries.
"The man was given trauma care on scene before being taken on blue lights to hospital for further emergency care."
It comes one day after gunshots were fired through the window of a classroom where students were being taught at a Black Country college.
Two shots were fired towards City of Wolverhampton College during class just after 2.30pm on Monday.
Nobody was injured as the bullets hit a wall at the college on Paget Road, which is opposite St Jude’s C Of E Primary School, with at least one bullet ending up in a classroom full of English literature students.
Anyone with information about the Cradley Heath shooting is urged to call West Midlands Police on 101, quoting incident number 20SW/236253B/20.
Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 or at crimestoppers-uk.org.
