Murder suspects 'still causing trouble' four years on

A gang suspected of the unsolved murder of a young man are still committing crime in the same area four years on, police said.

Sam Rimmer was struck by one of eight bullets fired from a sub-machine gun from the back of an electric bike in Dingle, Liverpool, at about 23:40 BST on 16 August 2022.

The 22-year-old had been visiting friends in Lavrock Bank, Dingle, where he was caught up in an escalating dispute between two street-level drugs gangs.

Merseyside Police believe they have the names of those responsible, and have made 10 arrests, but say they need crucial witnesses to come forward to move the case forward.

The investigation team is hunting for four men, riding on the back of two bikes, which entered the cul-de-sac moments before Rimmer was fatally wounded.

The suspects had previously spent a number of hours circling the local area in what police suspect was a "hunt" for targets.

Det Ch Insp Steve McGrath, leading the investigation, said it is believed the bikes made some kind of sound - potentially engine noise or horns - to lure the rival group outside.

One of the men then fired towards the group, which included Rimmer, with some bullets striking other houses.

The murder weapon, which has never been recovered, was identified as a Skorpion sub-machine gun - a Czech-made military grade firearm capable of firing multiple shots in a fraction of a second.

McGrath said: "Sam initially fell to the floor but was able to get up and be assisted by his friends and he made it back into the address, but he collapsed as soon as he got back into the hallway and, unfortunately, despite the best efforts of the paramedics, succumbed to his injuries."

His mother, Joanne Rimmer, told the BBC this week that while nothing would change the fact "your child is still dead", justice would at least "close another door".

Speaking about her pain last year, she said: "People say to cherish the memories, but when I think of Sam, the memory I have is of his body in the morgue, staring at his chest, willing him to breathe," she said.

"No parent should ever have to identify their child's body.

"Unless you have experienced the murder of your child, you cannot begin to understand the agonising, torturous mental and emotional horror we endure daily."

McGrath said there had been increasing tension in the 12 to 18 months before Rimmer was shot.

"There had been a build up of incidents between, what we think, was a split in a drug dealing group essentially within the Dingle area," McGrath added.

"We described as a split into two factions, and we believed that there was a series of events between those two factions involving numerous different people where violence had taken place, damage to premises, damage to vehicles but also serious assaults as well."

One of those incidents had taken place at the house Rimmer, who was from the Bootle area of Merseyside, was visiting the evening he was killed.

McGrath said it is believed the occupants of that property, who have since been evicted, were involved in drug dealing.

He said it is believed the killers had assistance both before and after the shooting, and urged anyone who was close to them at the time to search their conscience.

"I know people who are involved in those close criminal associations may well not trust the police," he said.

"But I would still ask them to come forward and the reason for that really is I can assure you that the people who are involved in Sam's murder directly - those four individuals on the bike - are still involved in serious criminality in and around the Dingle area as well.

"If you think someone you're close to, who was involved in Sam's murder, has turned a new leaf or is is telling you that they're not involved I can tell you that's not true."

McGrath said anyone who had information, but felt afraid to come forward, could seek independent legal advice.

The Crimestoppers charity has also announced they have extended a reward of up to £20,000 for information that leads to the conviction of anyone involved in the murder.

McGrath added: "We just need the final piece of the puzzle."

Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.