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This is the moment when an innocent man was shot in his front door by an armed man posing as a pizza delivery man.
The 56-year-old victim was shot three times outside her home on April 24 of last year.
The gunman, Aaron Bretherton, intended to carry out the attack on the victim’s 26-year-old stepson.
Video footage shows the victim attempting to close the door before Bretherton opened fire.
But one bullet hit the ground and another went through the door and hit him below the knee.
The shot caused life-changing leg injuries.
Bretherton fired another shot at the house before fleeing the scene.
He then escaped in a van with getaway driver Anthony Morris and Lewis Fitzpatrick, who was also inside.
Since then, the three men have been convicted of their involvement in the incident, which occurred on Poplars Avenue in Warrington.
Bretherton previously admitted to being the gunman, but, along with Fitzpatrick, 25, and Morris, 23, denied being part of a conspiracy to shoot the victim’s stepson who was not at the address at the time of the attack.
(Image: Cheshire Police)
On Friday, March 12, a jury found Bretherton, Fitzpatrick and Morris guilty of conspiracy to cause serious bodily harm to the 26-year-old stepson after a three-week trial at Liverpool Crown Court.
In the hours leading up to the attack, Bretherton was seen traveling with Fitzpatrick to Warrington to carry out a reconnaissance mission.
Shortly after 7pm, Morris traveled from his workplace at Connah’s Quay in North Wales to pick up Bretherton and Fitzpatrick in Liverpool and transport them to the crime scene.
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Bretherton deliberately left his own cell phone at home and used a Morris phone to communicate with Fitzpatrick while the trio made the trip in the van.
When they reached their destination, Fitzpatrick is believed to have handed the gun over to Bretherton.
He was captured on CCTV while on his way to the house and carrying out the attack.
A call was made to 999 after the shooting and armed officers were dispatched to the scene.
The white van was identified as coming from the garage where Morris worked, formerly on Fifth Avenue, Liverpool.
He was detained and arrested by police in Southport two days later.
Officers who searched the van discovered a skin and seized a mobile phone.
While Morris was in custody under questioning, the police continued to examine CCTV and conduct investigations.
Investigations led to the arrests of Bretherton and Fitzpatrick in Liverpool on May 6.
Clothing containing significant amounts of gunshot residue was recovered from Bretherton’s apartment in City View, Liverpool.
A Glock pistol was also found in the oven’s extractor, as well as several bullets in a magazine on a heater in the bathroom, a smoke grenade and £ 5,000 in cash.
The gun is not the same one that was used in the shooting.
An encrypted mobile phone and £ 4,000 in cash were seized from Fitzpatrick’s home on Eldersfield Road, Liverpool.
Both men were detained for questioning and subsequently charged.
Detective Chief Inspector Mike Evans of the Serious and Organized Crimes Unit said: “This was a coordinated attack that involved weeks of sophisticated planning and preparation with each individual playing a specific role to ensure the attack took place.
“However, this did not coincide with their actions the night of the shooting, as they were far from sophisticated in the way they carried out the attack.
“Bretherton shot an innocent man on his own doorstep and inflicted life-changing injuries. The victim has undergone several operations with metal pins and plates, which means that he will never be able to walk the same again.
“Driver Morris used one of his employer’s vehicles and hid a mobile phone in a hiding place, which was crucial to the investigation as it allowed us to identify Bretherton and Fitzpatrick and locate them at the scene through telecommunications analysis.
“They thought they were untouchable, but instead made mistakes that led detectives to unravel their plan and take a viable firearm out of circulation.
“While justice has been served, I hope this is a reminder for those entering a world of organized crime that can also lead to a life of fear and violence.”
Superintendent Simon Meegan of the Warrington Local Police Unit added: “The shooting brought fear to the local community and understandably caused a great deal of concern.
“While the investigation was ongoing, we conducted high-visibility patrols in the area and spoke with residents to provide as much peace of mind as possible.
“Fortunately, after a fantastic investigation, these men were caught and the danger they posed was removed from our streets.”
David Keane, Cheshire Police and Crime Commissioner, said: “This must have been a terrifying attack and my thoughts are with the man who has been left with life-changing injuries.
“I want to take this opportunity to congratulate the detectives involved in bringing these individuals to justice and protecting the community from serious and organized crime.
“I also want to acknowledge the work of the local agents who sought to provide reassurance to the victim, his family and the residents who feared what happened.”
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