Police appeal for 'final piece of puzzle' in murder probe

Sam Rimmer, 22, was fatally shot in Dingle, Liverpool on 16 August 2022

A police force says it is focusing on finding a "significant" piece of evidence to solve a murder probe of a 22-year-old man fatally shot in Liverpool.

Sam Rimmer died after being shot in the back on 16 August 2022 by a man on an electric bike in Dingle, Liverpool.

Ten people have been arrested and bailed since, and police are hoping the electric bikes used, the offender's clothes or even the weapon could still be found.

"We just need the final piece of the puzzle," Det Ch Insp Steve McGrath of Merseyside Police said.

Police said Mr Rimmer's family had "not had the answers they deserve"

Detectives said they had narrowed their search for who was responsible and were appealing to people in the local community who may have information to come forward.

“Two years have passed since Sam’s murder and his family have not had the answers they deserve," Det Ch Insp McGrath said.

“Sam’s death has had a devastating impact on his family, and in particular his mum, and they deserve to get justice.

“As part of our investigation we have made a number of arrests and received a lot of information from the public. We just need the final piece of the puzzle."

Mr Rimmer had been with a group of friends on Lavrock Bank when two electric bikes were ridden into the cul-de-sac and a number of shots were fired towards the group.

He was taken to hospital after the shooting, which happened at about 23:40 BST, but was pronounced dead a short while later.

“We know that there are people out there who live in the Dingle or Toxteth area who know who is responsible and my appeal is for those people to come forward and tell us what they know," Det Insp McGrath said.

He reassured people any information passed would be handled "with care and sensitivity" and "extensive measures" would be put in place "to protect those brave enough to come forward".