Hooded gunmen opened fire on a family home during a terrifying night-time attack.
Two children were inside as the gunmen twice fired a shotgun at the house.
Bullets from the gun hit the door of the property, damaging the metal locks.
No one was injured in the incident which took place around 10.25pm last Tuesday (October 8) on Parkgate Road, the Moss in Macclesfield.
The gunmen then fled the scene in a small hatchback vehicle down Lyme Avenue in the direction of London Road.
Immediately after the attack, police reviewed CCTV images from the area and a forensics team attended the scene, examining gun shot parts and residue. DS Dan Ackerley, of Macclesfield CID, reassured local residents that incidences like this were uncommon in the town.
He said: “We’re trying to establish what the motive and reason behind the attack is.
“Officers are following a number of lines of enquiry and would urge anyone who has any information to contact us so that we can progress with our enquiries.
“I would like to reassure residents that his type of incident is rare in Macclesfield and we have stepped up patrols in the area.”
A police statement said: “At 10.26pm on Tuesday, October 8, police received reports of two men discharging a firearm at an address in Parkgate Road in Macclesfield.
“Two hooded men were seen to discharge a firearm towards the address and make off in a small hatchback vehicle.
“Firearms officers attended and made an extensive search of the area but there was no trace of the offenders.
“An investigation is under way to establish the circumstances.”
The residents of the house declined to comment when contacted by the Express.
Anyone with information should contact CID on 101 quoting incident number 1010 of 8 October or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Specialist team set up to hunt gunmen
A SPECIALIST police team has been assigned to the case to hunt down the gunmen behind the shooting.
Police say an expert team of officers has been set up to examine exactly why the house was targeted and who was responsible.
Detective Inspector Robert Hassall, of Macclesfield CID, said: “Officers from Macclesfield CID and the Neighbourhood Policing Unit are working with specialist officers from the constabulary to establish the circumstances.
“We are following a number of lines of enquiry but there is nothing to indicate that this involves offenders from outside Macclesfield at this stage.
“We are currently looking at the motive for this crime and as part of this we are looking at a number of reasons, including drugs, but this can’t yet be confirmed as the motive.
“We would urge anyone with information to contact us in order to help us establish the circumstances and find those responsible so that we can bring them to justice.”
Macclesfield’s head of police, Inspector Steve Griffiths, urged residents to remain calm and said the force are doing everything they can to find those responsible.
Insp Griffiths said: “This type of incident is rare in Macclesfield and we will do everything we can to find those responsible.
“My officers are out patrolling in the area to provide reassurance and all officers involved are working tirelessly to find those responsible.
“This type of behaviour will not be tolerated and with the help of the community we aim to find those responsible.”
Anyone with information should contact Macclesfield CID on 101 quoting incident number 1010 of 8 October 2013.
Alternatively information can be given anonymously by contacting Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
‘I heard two gun shots – I thought it was fireworks’
NEIGHBOURS on Parkgate Road have described their horror at hearing two gunshots ring through the night as the gunmen carried out the shocking attack.
Local councillors and residents said the incident had sent shockwaves through the community.
One resident spoke about her surprise that a shooting had occurred so close to where she lives.
Joyce Brown, who lives on the road, said: “It was two very loud bangs – one straight after the other.
“They sounded like fireworks but more powerful, not exactly the same.
“It was about 10.20pm and my son had just come in. It’s lucky, I’m usually on my own.
“It’s very scary that it could happen so close by. You don’t think anything like that could happen around here.”
Another Parkgate Road resident George Parry said that he wasn’t surprised as he remembered another shooting in the area a number of years ago.
He said: “I heard two gun shots – I thought it was fireworks at first.
“There was only a few seconds between each gun shot, like they pulled the trigger, released it, then pulled it again straight away.
“I’m not surprised by it. It’s not the first time we have had a shooting around here but it’s the first time for a long time.”
Another resident said that she had been in the street just minutes before the attack took place.
Patricia Capes, who also lives on the street, said: “I was home alone.
“I took my dogs out about 10pm but everything was OK then. It’s quite worrying but I’m not surprised about it really around here.”
Coun Damien Druce, who represents the ward, expressed his concern that a crime of this nature had occurred in Macclesfield, but said he wanted to reassure residents that the culprits will be caught.
He said: “Macclesfield doesn’t have a problem with serious crime or a gun culture so it’s sent shock waves through the community. The estate has had its problems but in recent times its vastly improved.
“I am convinced that the weapons are coming from other areas. I actually live very close to where it happened and play football with a lad who also lives nearby.
“I have 100 per cent confidence that the police will get to the bottom of it and people need to co-operate with the police to get it sorted.”
