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Marlon O'Reilly shooting: 'Mistaken identity' say police Marlon O'Reilly shooting: 'Mistaken identity' say police
(about 5 hours later)
A father shot dead in a Birmingham pub was a victim of mistaken identity, police have confirmed. A father shot dead in a West Midlands pub was a victim of mistaken identity, police have confirmed.
Marlon O'Reilly, 33, was shot at the Dove Cote pub in Cockshut Hill, Sheldon, where he had been drinking with friends on Friday evening. Marlon O'Reilly, 32, was shot at The Dovecote pub in Cockshut Hill, Sheldon, where he had been drinking with friends on Friday evening.
West Midlands Police said Mr O'Reilly may have been shot because of the T-shirt he was wearing. West Midlands Police believed he was shot because he was wearing a similar T-shirt to the intended target.
Several shots were fired and he was pronounced dead at the scene, a force spokesman. Police were linking the shooting with a man being slashed with a knife at a Sheldon gym earlier on Friday.
Appealing for information, cousin Hayley O'Reilly said it was "a mindless act". Several people have been arrested and bailed in connection with the gym incident.
'Loving father'
Mr O'Reilly, who was studying graphic design, would have been 33 on the following day and had two sons aged 15 and nine.
The West Midlands force disclosed the intended target was unharmed and was now being "safeguarded" by police.
Appealing for information, Hayley O'Reilly said her cousin was a "loving father, son and brother", his death had left his family and friends devastated and it was "a mindless act".
She said: "They were after somebody who was wearing the same T-shirt as Marlon and that's why Marlon was murdered.She said: "They were after somebody who was wearing the same T-shirt as Marlon and that's why Marlon was murdered.
"The person needs to be brought to justice. "For his mum's sake, I ask anybody who knows anything to help the police.
"For his mum's sake I ask that anybody who knows anything to help the police, who have been so helpful to us as a family and given us so much comfort at this time." "The chasm left in our hearts is immeasurable as this person who meant so much to us and brought so much fun, laughter and happiness has been taken away in such a brutal fashion."
The offender, described as a well-built white man wearing blue clothing, fled from the scene on a high-powered motorbike.
A number of lines of inquiry were being followed up.
Ch Supt Alex Murray, from West Midlands Police, said Mr O'Reilly was there "just having a quiet drink".
He said: "The gunman went in [to the pub] with the intention of killing someone and we believe it's highly likely that he killed the wrong person.
"It appears that fate has dealt a very cruel hand to this family in this incident.
"If you can imagine losing your son or a friend to a horrendous murder like this and then finding out it was a case of mistaken identity, it's truly terrible."
'A true gent''A true gent'
A large area around the pub was cordoned off until Saturday afternoon. Ch Supt Murray declined to say how many shots had been fired inside the pub.
Bunches of flowers from friends and loved ones were left outside the pub. Bunches of flowers from friends and loved ones were left outside.
A card on one read: "Marlon, you will never be forgotten, always in our hearts and thoughts."A card on one read: "Marlon, you will never be forgotten, always in our hearts and thoughts."
Another said: "Goodnight, God bless" with one mourner addressing their card: "To 'my brother' Marlon".Another said: "Goodnight, God bless" with one mourner addressing their card: "To 'my brother' Marlon".
A solitary black balloon left at the scene displayed the words "A true gent - RIP".A solitary black balloon left at the scene displayed the words "A true gent - RIP".
Insp Derek Packham said: "We are currently investigating a number of lines of inquiry and have conducted house to house, forensic searches of the scene and continue to trawl CCTV for clues, but we still need people to come forward."
Specially trained officers continue to offer support to the family, police said.
Ch Supt Alex Murray said: "This would have been a shocking incident for witnesses and will have a huge impact on the local community.
"I want to reassure residents that we are working hard to find the person responsible for this attack and are following a number of lines of inquiry at this early stage."