Detectives investigating the killing of a 28-year-old woman shot dead in Liverpool have released CCTV footage of a car being driven in the area, shortly before the incident was reported.

Ashley Dale, 28, was found with gunshot wounds in her garden in the Old Swan area of Liverpool on Sunday.

Her family have paid tribute to their “shining light” and condemned the “senseless” killing of the Knowsley Council worker.

Police do not believe that she was the intended target of the attack.

Crime in Liverpool has been under the spotlight this week following the killing of Ms Dale at the weekend and Monday’s fatal shooting of nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel.

Merseyside Police were called just after 12.40am on Sunday to a house in Leinster Road and found a woman with injuries consistent with gunshot wounds.

Ms Dale was treated at the scene and was rushed to hospital but sadly died a short time later.

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A Home Office post-mortem has taken place and confirmed the cause of death was a single gunshot wound, police say.

CCTV enquiries so far have shown that car was being driven into Leinster Road at around 12.30am, roughly 10 minutes before the incident was reported.

Officers are keen to speak to the person who was driving the vehicle, or any passengers, as they believe that they may have vital information which could help the investigation.

Detective Chief Inspector Cath Cummings said: “Our officers are working round-the-clock to investigate this appalling incident which led to the tragic death of a young woman.

“From reviewing CCTV footage in the area, we have also identified that there were a number of people on foot around the time of the incident. A boxing match had not long finished and so the area was relatively busy with people on foot, going home or into town after the match.

“If you were walking in the area of Leinster Road or on Prescot Road, including the crossroads near the Navigator pub between 12.20am and 12.40am on Sunday morning then please let us know. You may have seen or heard something which could really help us find those responsible.

“Similarly, I would ask taxi and delivery drivers if they were driving in the area between 12.20am and 12.40am and have dashcam footage please contact us.”

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