A dad found dead in the street has been said by police to have been the victim of both an acid attack and a gunshot wound.
Liam Smith, 38, was discovered on Kilburn Drive in Shevington, Wigan, Greater Manchester, at 7pm on Thursday (November 24).
His body was found “covered in substance” with Greater Manchester Police revealing this morning (Sunday, November 27) the latest findings from a Home Office post-mortem.
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The suspicious circumstances under which Mr Smith was found means that a murder investigation has now been opened, the Manchester Evening News reports.
Greater Manchester Police has said it is working intently on unearthing the truth of the death.
The hazardous substances found on Mr Smith’s body are now contained and are not a source for any further harm.
Authorities are however encouraging anyone who had contact with the body to speak to police immediately.
At the time of writing, a crime scene is still in place, Manchester Evening News reports.
Police are encouraging anyone who may have witnessed anything in connection to the murder to reach out to them, particularly between 8am and 7pm on Thursday, on Kilburn Drive.
People are being encouraged to steer clear of anyone they suspect may have been involved in the incident.
The leader of the investigation, Detective Chief Inspector Gina Brennand, said: “This is a shocking murder of a much-loved family man.
“I have a team of detectives working around the clock and I urge anyone who has seen anything unusual or out of the ordinary near to the victim’s home during the day and early evening of Thursday, November 24, to contact the Major Incident Room.
"This is the first fatal shooting in the Manchester area for over two years and we are determined to recover the weapon and find Liam’s killer.”
Locals have been instructed not to panic if they see people wearing specialist protective clothing, but to know that officers are taking extra precautions.
Mr Smith’s family gave a brief statement on Saturday, where they paid tribute to him.
They said: "Liam was kind hearted, funny, the life and soul of the party. He was the most devoted dad, much loved son, brother, grandson and uncle.
"He will sorely be missed by all who knew and loved him."
People with any information are being encouraged to contact Greater Manchester Police’s LiveChat function on gmp.police.uk or by calling 101, quoting incident number 910 of November 25, 2022.
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