Bilston traders' shock at shooting

Disbelief and shock – that was the mood of traders and residents in Bilston today after a father-of-four was gunned down outside the bar he ran with his son.

Swinder Singh Batth, aged 47, today became the second man to be shot dead in Wolverhampton in 16 months, after Luke Harris was shot dead outside a pub in Whitmore Reans.

This afternoon, as the crime scene around Gavin's Sports Bar remained sealed off by police, a major manhunt was under way to catch the killer.

West Midlands Police spokeswoman Keiley Gartland said: "Detectives from the major investigation unit are conducting house-to-house inquiries at the scene.

"Forensic scene investigators are also at the scene, and a post mortem is being carried out this evening.

As news of the shooting spread, passer-by Sylvia Mills, aged 40, a shop assistant from Wednesbury, reckoned it was like "being in a warzone."

She said: "I can't believe it. I don't know how these people get hold of the guns in the first place.

"If nobody had guns, then nobody would get shot."

Rosy Banger, owner of Roselaw Solicitors based at The Orchard, said: "We have only been open a couple of weeks, so this has come as a major shock to us.

"Our concern is that it could deter people from even walking down this street.

"You don't expect a shooting to happen so close to home. We are going to get cameras outside the building."

Eyon Thompson, 51, the owner of the Mr Hottie takeaway in Church Street, Bilston, said: "I think it's terrible. Crime has been a big problem in Bilston for quite a long time.

"A lot of young people play computer games these days and just drift, they get bored and turn to crime. I think it's very sad."

Wendy Duber, the owner of The Orchard Florist, also in Church Street, said: "I felt sick when I heard the news.

"Sometimes, I have to work very late in here.

"I've been here past midnight in the past, and it does make you worry.

"There are not enough CCTV cameras in Bilston. We also need more police on the beat."

Papinder Singh, 27, who runs Euro Computers in Oxford Street, believes that there is no easy answer to the violence.

He said: "The traders want to see crime reduce but it exists pretty much everywhere. Lots of people seem to carry weapons these days, whether it's a gun or a knife.

"It hardly gives out a good reputation of Bilston to have a shooting."

With Hall Street cordoned off as police continued to comb the area for clues, buses were diverted along the Black Country Route near Morrisons to get to the station via Wood Street.

Bilston has seen a number of violent attacks in recent times.

At least two people were shot outside the Tropical Harmony nightclub when violence erupted in September last year.

The following month, a driver's mate died after being attacked at Bilston bus station. Two men have denied the murder of Peter White, 47, of Bilston Road.

In January, a gunman who shot a bystander after a pub row over "respect" was jailed for at least 23 years.

Leighton Cohen, 21, fired indiscriminately into the doorway of the Bagot Arms in Whitmore Reans, hitting father-of-two Luke Harris.

Cohen, who was on licence after being released early from a sentence for witness intimidation, had trodden on the foot of another man at the Goalpost pub.

Today's victim, Mr Batth, is also understood to have run Gavin's Pizza and Fish Bar, in Parkfield Road, Wolverhampton.

West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman Murray MacGregor said today: "An incident support officer and paramedic in a car were first on the scene, backed up by an ambulance.

"Ambulance staff took over treatment of the patient from a police officer at the scene. They continued working on the man as the ambulance travelled on blue lights to New Cross Hospital.

"Sadly, despite the best efforts of ambulance staff and the early intervention of the police officer, it was not possible to save the man and he was confirmed dead on arrival."