Gunshots missed sleeping children 'only by luck' as Sheffield police launch manhunt

Multiple gunshots were fired at a home in Sheffield while young children were asleep upstairs.

Police were called at 10.38pm last night (Wednesday, April 24) following reports of gunshots in Gresley Road in the Lowedges area of Sheffield.

Armed officers rushed to the scene, where they found a home had been shot at. A cordon has been put in place to allow for detailed forensic examination of the scene and there will be an increased police presence in the area to reassure members of the community, a spokesperson for South Yorkshire Police has said.

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The family who live at the property have been offered support by police. Detective Chief Inspector Anthony Slater, from the South Yorkshire Police Armed Crime Team (ACT), said: "This was a terrifying and worrying incident and it was only by luck that nobody was injured as a result of this reckless and irresponsible behaviour.

"We are putting lots of resources into piecing together the circumstances of this incident and finding the person responsible for pulling the trigger. What makes this incident even more shocking is that when the shots were fired, multiple children under the age of 10 were asleep inside the property.

"To think that innocent children could have been caught in the crossfire of this is beyond our comprehension and I want the public to know that we are working relentlessly to find the perpetrator of this awful crime."

Various enquiries, including visits to people who live in the area and trawls of local CCTV systems, are being carried out, police say. They are urging anyone who witnessed the incident or anyone with relevant information or footage to get in touch if they haven’t already done so.

"It's vital that anyone with information gets in touch with us immediately," DCI Slater said. "Even the smallest piece of information could prove to be a crucial piece of the jigsaw and we know just how important this kind of intelligence is when it comes to solving these kinds of cases.

"We are particularly keen to hear from anyone in the Gresley Road area who may have seen someone or people in the area at the time, or anyone with relevant doorbell, CCTV or dashcam footage from around the time of the incident that might help us progress our enquiries.

"Our stance on gun crime is clear. It will not be tolerated here in South Yorkshire and the person responsible for this horrific attack on a family home will be dealt with by the full force of the law."

Police have said that there will be an increased police presence in the Gresley Road area over the coming days, which would include highly visible proactive patrols. Inspector Nik Dodsworth has appealed for anyone with concerns to speak to our officers while they are in the community.

Insp Dodsworth said: "We understand news of this firearms discharge will have generated considerable concern in the local community and we want residents to know that we are here to support them in the aftermath of this incident.

"If you have any queries, questions or concerns, please stop our officers to speak to them. They are here to help you and reassure you in light of what has happened."

A spokesperson for South Yorkshire Police added: “Anyone with information about this incident should call us on 101, quoting incident number 1002 of 24 April 2024. You can also submit information to us online via our new website. If you are emailing footage to us, please email it to enquiries@southyorks.pnn.police.uk and put the incident number and date in the subject of your email.

“We understand that some people may wish to submit information anonymously, and you can do that via Crimestoppers. You can call them on their freephone number 0800 555 111 or submit an online form at www.crimestoppers-uk.org . Your details will be completely confidential and you will not be identified.”

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