Man shot in Northern Ireland supermarket car park dies of injuries

A man who was shot in a supermarket car park in Northern Ireland has died from his injuries, police confirmed.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland said the victim of the fatal shooting was a 35-year-old man who died on Sunday evening in hospital. The incident happened in front of shoppers outside Sainsbury’s store in Bangor, Co Down, on Sunday afternoon.

It is understood the victim was shot four times after he had just got out of a car. There were reports children were in the car when it pulled up in the car park. One of the children was the man’s son.

Shoppers said someone performed CPR on the wounded man as he lay on the ground.

DS Keith Wilson said: “Detectives have now launched a murder investigation and I would ask anyone who may have witnessed this incident or anyone who has any information to contact police on the non-emergency number 101, quoting reference 870 28/05/17.

“Alternatively, if someone would prefer to provide information without giving their details they can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers and speak to them anonymously on 0800 555 111.”

Alan Chambers, Ulster Unionist assembly member for North Down, tweeted from the area:

A major security operation was launched around the area, with the PSNI setting up a cordon blocking access to the car park. The PSNI helicopter also flew above the scene of the shooting earlier.

It is understood that the victim was targeted due to an internal feud inside a unit of the Ulster Defence Association. The feuding centres on the UDA’s so-called South East Antrim Brigade which has already claimed one life so far this year.

However, Sunday’s murder was the first time the power struggle based around control of the UDA unit’s criminal empire moved beyond the South East Antrim area and into another part of Northern Ireland.

Stephen Farry, assembly member for the cross-community Alliance party, said the killing had “sent shockwaves” through Bangor.

Farry said: “This was a brutal incident, made all the more reckless and shocking by the fact it took place in a busy supermarket car park on a Sunday afternoon. Shoppers going about their regular business could have easily been on the end of this attack.

“My thoughts are with the loved ones of the man shot dead. There can never be any excuse for carrying out such an act, which has left a man dead and a family mourning.

“Violence has no place in our society and those who carried out this attack must be taken off the streets. I would urge anyone with information on it to contact police immediately.”

Steven Agnew, the Green MLA for North Down, lives about two miles from the scene of the shooting. “I have heard reports of anything from four to six shots having been fired and I’ve heard from police reports that a man is injured. We would wish him well,” he said.

“It’s very shocking that this took place in broad daylight on a busy shopping day with children and families present. A large number of people will have been shocked by this incident.”