The first image of a 28-year-old “beautiful” and “wonderful” municipal worker who was shot and killed in a “very horrific occurrence” in a home’s backyard has been released.
Ashley Dale, a council employee, was fatally shot yesterday just after midnight outside the building in Liverpool’s Old Swan neighbourhood. There have not yet been any arrests.
The residence, according to Merseyside Police, was deliberately targeted, although Miss Dale was not the intended victim. She received treatment there but subsequently passed away at a hospital.
Miss Dale, an employee of Knowsley Council, received a deluge of condolence messages today, including one from Carol Tunstall, a former coworker, who posted on social media: “So very sad. Ashley used to work with us quite a few years ago. Such a nice, adorable young lady.
Additionally, a friend named Saraphina Kingfisher wrote on Facebook that Ashley was one of the kindest individuals she had ever encountered. Such a golden heart. Beautiful, go to paradise and rest.
Danielle O’Mahoney, a family friend, said, “My heart is shattered for you and your whole family, Julie Dale. I’m thinking about you. I’m sending you my love and my strength.
She had injuries to her body consistent with gunshot wounds when officers arrived at a residence on Leinster Road yesterday just after 12.40 am, according to officers.
In the hospital, Miss Dale’s death was confirmed.
The police said that her relatives had been notified and were receiving help from policemen with specialized training.
Inquiries are being made by detectives as part of a murder investigation, and a post-mortem examination will be performed to determine the cause of death.
An automobile that was being driven ‘erratically’ on Prescot Road around the time of the shooting has been the subject of a police information request.
Since the shooting death of Lucy Hargreaves in August 2005, when three men broke into a home and shot her to death, Miss Dale is the first woman to be the victim of a gun crime in Liverpool.
‘I want our communities to feel an overwhelming feeling of contempt, revulsion, and horror at this incredibly terrible murder, senseless murder, of an innocent 28-year-old lady in her own home,’ Detective Chief Superintendent Mark Kameen told the BBC.
To ensure that the perpetrators are found as soon as possible, “We must join together – the police, the communities, and the Press itself.”
DCI Kameen said in a statement from yesterday that “This certainly was a very sad occurrence that has resulted in the death of a young lady.”
“I realize how terrifying instances like this might look to regular people on the street. In the next hours and days, we will be engaging with residents of the local and surrounding neighbourhood to reassure them of the continued work we are doing to discover the individual or persons involved.”
“Gun criminality has no place on Merseyside’s streets, and we will stop at nothing to bring those guilty to account.”
A variety of avenues of inquiry are now being looked at as part of an investigation.
As usual, the community serves as our eyes and ears, and we are aware that there could be locals who heard or saw anything in the early morning hours that might be important to our inquiry.
“I want those individuals to kindly come forward and inform us of what they know.” Please check your own CCTV or Ring the doorbell if you live or work nearby to see whether it recorded anything that might help us.
Similarly, if I was driving in the neighbourhood, I would request that delivery and taxi drivers review their dashcam video. We are especially interested in speaking with anybody who saw a car being driven recklessly in the vicinity of Prescot Road.
Anyone with information or footage may contact the police by going here, calling 101, or using the handle @MerPolCC on social media. Additionally, anyone may contact Crimestoppers anonymously at 0800 555 111 by referencing 22000615873.