30/05/2017

Police Appeal After Man Shot Dead In Bangor

Police are appealing for information following the murder of Colin Horner, who was shot in front of his three-year-old son at Sainbury's car park in Bangor on Sunday, 28 May.

The boy was in the car at the time of the attack.

It is understood Mr Horner, originally from Co Antrim, has loyalist links.

Police confirmed the shooting was carried out by a gunman who was wearing a dark hoodie with either a scarf or a dust-mask.

Senior Investigating Officer Richard Campbell said: "I am also keen to establish the movements of a red Ford Mondeo car which was seen speeding away from the scene around 2.50pm just after Mr Horner was shot. I believe one of its occupants was wearing a dark hoodie type top mask with possibly a dust mask covering his face.

"This vehicle bore the registration GKZ 7996 but we have established these were false number plates. It was later found burnt out at Kerrs Road, in the Six Road Ends area of Bangor, close to a local equestrian centre.

"There may have been another vehicle which ferried the gunman and his accomplice away from Kerrs Road. I need help to establish what that vehicle was.

"I would urge anyone who may have seen any of these vehicles to contact us. I would urge anyone who may have mobile phone footage, dash-cam footage or local businesses in the area with CCTV footage to come forward to detectives in Bangor."

Sinn Féin MLA Chris Hazzard said: "Whoever was behind this shooting wants to drag us back to the past. It will not happen.

"I would appeal to anyone with any information on this shooting to pass it on to the police."

Alliance North Down MLA Stephen Farry said: "My thoughts are with the loved ones of the man shot dead. There can never be any excuse for carrying out such an act, which has left a man dead and a family mourning.

"Violence has no place in our society and those who carried out this attack must be taken off the streets. I would urge anyone with information on it to contact police immediately."

(CD/LM)

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