Man fatally shot by gang while child was upstairs in Birkdale house

Det Supt Richie Salter said the man "lost his life in a tragic and violent way"

A man has died after being shot by four masked men while a six-year-old child and a woman were upstairs, said police.

Stephen Maguire, 27, was shot in the stomach and leg at a house on Guildford Road, Birkdale at about 23:35 GMT on Monday and died later in hospital.

His attackers escaped in a dark Mercedes and on a motorbike, said Merseyside Police.

Det Supt Richie Salter said he "lost his life in a tragic and violent way".

The gang were all "wearing facial coverings and dark clothing" and had fled in the direction of New Cut Lane, said a police spokesman.

It is believed to be a "targeted attack", he added.

'Extremely traumatic'

The area has been cordoned off while house-to-house, forensic and CCTV inquiries are carried out.

Det Supt Salter urged anyone with information to get in touch, adding: "This is a testing time for all and we are reliant on the public for their support."

He added that the shooting was made "all the more shocking" because a child was inside the property at the time.

"Although we do not believe they saw what happened, there is no doubt what followed must have been an extremely traumatic time for all those involved," he added.