Wigan dad doused with acid and shot dead before body found covered ‘in hazardous liquid’ | World | News

Greater Manchester Police has said a man whose body was found dumped and “covered in a substance” had been shot and was the victim of an acid attack. Liam Smith, 38, was “kind hearted, funny, the life and soul of the party”, a statement issued by his grieving family has said.

Officers were called to reports of a deceased body on Kilburn Drive, Shevington, Wigan, at about 7pm on Thursday.

Emergency services attended and the body was subsequently identified.

A Home Office post-mortem has taken place and his family are being supported by specially trained officers, Greater Manchester Police said.

Detective Chief Inspector Gina Brennand from GMP’s Major Incident Team, who is leading this investigation 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 the victim’s home during the day and early evening of Thursday 24 November 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.”

A crime scene remains in place in Shevington, with a murder investigation underway.

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Detectives are working to establish the facts leading up to Mr Smith’s death details on what is a quiet residential street.

After examination and tests, the hazardous substances are believed to not pose any further harm, threat or risk to the public in the surrounding area and have been contained.

However, police are urging anyone who had direct contact with the body at the time to contact officers or seek medical advice immediately.

A police spokesman stressed: “It is important that the public do not approach or contact anyone they suspect of being involved in this offence.

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“Anyone with information should instead use the contact details below if they witness something or have witnessed anything unusual, including between the times of 8am and 7pm on Thursday 24 November on Kilburn Drive.”

Specialist officers are taking precautions surrounding this incident and members of the public have been warned not be alarmed if they are seen in the area wearing protective clothing.

Any details should be passed via the LiveChat function on gmp.police.uk or by calling 101 quoting incident number 910 of 25/11/2022.