Published: Thursday, 28th February, 2008 09:55
Drugs and gang warfare ruled out in drive-by
By Lucy Thorne
Comments (0)
Print Article
DETECTIVES have ruled out gang warfare or drugs as motives for a drive-by shooting which rocked a community.
Fears that figures in west Reading’s drug and prostitution underworld were behind the terrifying incident were dispelled when police revealed they believe a private feud might have been behind it.
Officers spent Sunday reassuring neighbours over an attack in which two shots were fired from a moving car at the occupant of a BMW, parked in Elm Lodge Avenue just after midnight the previous Monday.
The man was unhurt and the other car drove off down Wilton Road in the direction of Wantage Road.
Inspector Graham Dix said: “We believe the shooting was something to do with a disagreement between the two parties involved. It had nothing to do with gang warfare and there is no positive link with anything to do with drugs. We had our Oxford Road neighbourhood police teams in Elm Lodge Avenue and Wilton Road to reassure residents.”
Last week neighbours spoke of their fears after hearing gunshots and almost 50 people turned up for the police street briefing on the “worrying” incident on Sunday.
Officers believe a shotgun was used in the attack and have also confirmed that neither the victim nor the suspected offender live in the area. A 26-year-old man arrested on suspicion of attempted murder has been granted bail for a second time while police inquiries continue.
The man was arrested at 5pm last Thursday and questioned overnight before being released on bail to return to Reading police station on Monday [25] this week.
He has now been bailed again to report back on March 20.
Anyone with information should contact Reading CID on 0845 8 505 505.
Further Details
Gaza protest in town centre