Liverpool shooting: Man killed outside daughter's dance class

The shooting in Holy Cross Close was heard by a number of people

A man has been shot dead as he was waiting to pick up his daughter from a dance class near Liverpool city centre.

The 34-year-old victim, James Taylor, was found in Holy Cross Close at about 20:00 GMT on Thursday after witnesses described hearing a number of shots.

Police said he was shot as he sat in his car in a "targeted attack".

Four properties were raided across Liverpool on Friday evening, but no arrests have been made so far during the police investigation.

Thirty four-year-old James Taylor was shot outside his daughter's dance class

Christine Banks, the lord mayor of Liverpool, lives near the scene of the attack and said it had made her "feel sick".

"That somebody could actually wait... and watch, knowing children were coming out of that dance school and then do that - what kind of person does that?

"It's not a person that lives in this community," she said.

On Friday night, police investigating the shooting executed warrants at four houses across the city.

Armed officers were present during at least one of these raids, at a house on Hamilton Road in Liverpool.

Police are investigating if a car found burnt out nearby is connected to the shooting

In a statement, the force said: "The warrants took place on Rupert Drive, Courtier Close, Hamilton Road and Randolph Street.

"No arrests were made and officers continue to carry out further investigations."

Police confirmed that Mr Taylor, of Deysbrook Lane in Liverpool, was the victim of the attack.

Detectives have also appealed for any witnesses who may have seen a black Ford Fiesta being driven in the area.

A similar vehicle was found burnt out on nearby Summer Seat in Vauxhall at 20:15.

Det Ch Supt Mark Kameen said: "There were children in the area, they were due to come out of that dance school and that makes this attack particularly cowardly."

Police have appealed to anyone who may have seen the car "or who saw anyone or anything suspicious" to contact officers "as a matter of urgency".