Family 'deserve' answers after unsolved killing

The family of a man shot dead in a Liverpool street "deserve answers", detectives have said in a fresh appeal on what would have been his 25th birthday.

Sam Rimmer was 22 when he was struck in the chest by one of several bullets fired from a sub-machine gun towards a group in Lavrock Bank, Dingle.

Mr Rimmer was shot at 23:40 BST on 16 August 2022 and died in hospital shortly afterwards.

Since then, Merseyside Police has arrested 10 people in connection with his death but no-one has been charged.

Mr Rimmer, who lived in Bootle, was visiting friends living in Lavrock Bank when he was killed.

Det Ch Insp Steve McGrath, the senior investigating officer in the case, said: "Every birthday is another milestone Sam's family are forced to endure and our thoughts remain with them on this poignant day."

He added: "This was a young man with his whole life ahead of him.

"It is vital that anyone who hasn't already come forward to speak to us does so as a matter of urgency.

"Sam's family deserve to get the answers and to see someone brought to justice."

Detectives believe the shots were fired by one of four men on the back of two electric bikes driven into the cul-de-sac.

The force has previously said the suspected killers were believed to have spent two hours driving around the area on electric bikes "hunting" for members of a rival group.

The opening of an inquest into Mr Rimmer's death heard he and the friends he was visiting may have chased one of the bikes off the street earlier that evening.

The two suspects then met up with two other men on a different bike and the group returned to the scene.

Det Ch Insp McGrath said the force believed there were people living in Dingle, Toxteth and the surrounding area who knew "vital" information.

"We will review any new information you share with us so please contact us immediately if you have anything that could help us bring justice for Sam and his family," he said.

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