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| Boy's shooting could be 'mistake' | Boy's shooting could be 'mistake' |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A 15-year-old boy shot dead in the Moss Side area of Manchester could have been the victim of mistaken identity, police have said. | |
| A post-mortem examination showed Jessie James was killed by three bullets - two to his torso and one to his appendix. | A post-mortem examination showed Jessie James was killed by three bullets - two to his torso and one to his appendix. |
| His mother Barbara Reid described her son as a bubbly boy, loved by everyone. | |
| Det Supt Tony Cook of Greater Manchester Police said: "There's no shred of evidence to suggest he was a member of any gang." | |
| Det Supt Cook said the teenager was killed with a semi-automatic pistol in a park on Raby Street in the early hours of Saturday. | |
| Everyone loved Jessie and it doesn't make sense that he's been killed Barbara Reid, mother | |
| The police were keeping an open mind over the motive for the shooting, he said. | |
| "The most likely explanation is that Jessie was in the wrong place at the wrong time," he added. | "The most likely explanation is that Jessie was in the wrong place at the wrong time," he added. |
| "It probably was mistaken identity." | "It probably was mistaken identity." |
| The detective also said, "We are pursuing some very fruitful lines of inquiry." | The detective also said, "We are pursuing some very fruitful lines of inquiry." |
| Jessie's mother said: "Everyone loved Jessie and it doesn't make sense that he's been killed. | |
| "He was everyone's friend and didn't care about people's background, colour, religion or anything - he was a just an open-minded, friendly person who loved being around others. He mixed with everyone." | |
| Family appeal | |
| Ms Reid said her son used to attend church with her, and remembered what he had learnt from the Bible. | |
| In a joint statement, the family appealed to the community to help catch the killers. | |
| Investigations continue at the site of the shooting | Investigations continue at the site of the shooting |
| "If you know what happened or know who's responsible, then please don't shield them," they said. | |
| "How would you feel if this was your son or your brother? How would you feel if you were hearing reports your relative had been murdered?" | |
| Jessie lived in Greame Street, Moss Side and attended the nearby Manchester Academy High School. | |
| His killing on Raby Street comes less than three months after 45-year-old Ernest Gifford was shot at home on Raby Street. | |
| And last month, three men were shot and wounded in two separate incidents in other parts of Moss Side. | And last month, three men were shot and wounded in two separate incidents in other parts of Moss Side. |
| Concern is now mounting among locals the area could once again be a centre of gun violence and police have stepped up patrols to reassure residents. | |