Tag: shooting

Anchor shootings: Webley murderer jailed for life

A gunman who murdered a gangland rival outside a Granton pub on Hogmanay 2023 has been jailed for life.

Grant Hunter, 34, shot Marc Webley outside the Anchor Inn just before midnight on New Year’s Eve two years ago.

Hunter pleaded guilty to murdering Webley and attempting to murder a second man, Stuart Pearson, who was also shot but survived his injuries. Hunter will serve a minimum of 26 years for the crime but was told he may never be released.

Hunter approached Marc Webley and Stuart Pearson outside the pub, where he produced a gun and fired four shots at the men. Stuart Pearson was injured but Marc Webley died from his injuries in the early hours of New Year’s Day.

Jailing Hunter for a minimum of 26 years, Judge Lord Mulholland said: “You fired four shots which showed beyond any doubt that you wanted him dead.

“You shot another man who could have came to his aid which shows further intent.

“It is blatantly sinister that you wanted your victim to see your face which is an aggravating factor. In doing so you removed your mask and this was your undoing as the police knew you and people knew you which led to your swift arrest.

“The public are grateful to the police and forensic scientists for bringing you to justice.

“Gangsterism is not acceptable in a civilised society – this is a civilised society. The public will not put up with this gangsterism and the courts will not put up with it.

“Anyone going to court for carrying out this type of criminality can expect a lengthy prison sentence.

“As I said to you previously, this is not Chicago of the 1930s. Scotland is a civilised place without tolerance for gangsterism.

“You have left a mother without a son and two boys without a father. Your cowardly actions will haunt you for the rest of your life.”

Wester Hailes firearm incident: Police appeal for information

Detectives investigating the discharge of a firearm in Edinburgh are urging those with information to contact them.

The incident occurred around 3.40pm on Thursday, 24 July, 2025 in the Hailesland Gardens area of the city. A 23-year-old man sustained an injury to his arm and was taken to hospital. He has since been released.

Officers have been carrying out door-to-door enquiries.

From reviewing CCTV footage, officers have established several people were in the area at the time of the incident.

Senior investigating officer, Detective Inspector Gordon Couper, said: “I would like to reassure everyone that a team of experienced detectives are working on this case.

“I believe there are people in the community who have information and for whatever reason they are not passing it on. I would appeal to them to help us and contact us. We are piecing together what happened and your detail could be the vital piece in the puzzle.

“If you saw anything or have captured any images which could assist in our inquiry please do get in touch. Everything is significant.”

Additional officers are in the area and anyone with information or concerns can speak to these officers.

Superintendent Paul Gillespie said: “We are determined to protect the public from harmful criminality and additional officers are on patrol to provide reassurance to everyone.

“Be assured, we are acting on your concerns and are carrying out regular activity in the Wester Hailes area, such as executing drugs warrants and tackling antisocial behaviour.

“Community based criminality affects the lives of everyone and we are working with our partners to deliver initiatives and plans to respond, detect and deter criminality.

If anyone has any information, please call Police Scotland via 101, quoting incident number 2318 of 24 July, 2025.

You can also get in touch with Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 where you can give your information anonymously.

Granton shootings: Two Arrested

Two people have been arrested in connection with the death of a 38-year-old man in West Granton. A 32-year-old man and 25-year-old woman have been arrested in connection with the shooting.

Emergency services were called around 11.50pm on Sunday, 31 December, 2023, after a firearm was discharged in West Granton Road, seriously injuring two men.

Both men, aged 38 and 39, were taken to hospital, where the 38-year-old man was pronounced dead a short time later. The dead man has been named locally as Marc Webley.

Enquiries are ongoing and police continue to appeal for information.

Detective Superintendent Graham Grant, Major Investigation Team, said: “We’d like to thank the local community for their support and patience while enquiries are ongoing.

“There will continue to be an increased police presence in the area and anyone with further concerns should speak to officers, call 101, or in the case of an emergency, 999.”

Granton murder: Online portal set up

DID YOU SEE RED HYUNDAI TUCSON IN THE AREA ON NIGHT OF SHOOTING?

Detectives are continuing to appeal for information following the murder of a man during a firearms incident in Granton on Hogmanay.

Police were called to Granton Crescent around 11.50pm after a firearm was discharged, seriously injuring two men. Emergency services attended and the two men were taken to hospital, where a 38-year-old man was pronounced dead a short time later.

A 39-year-old man remains in hospital in a serious but stable condition.

The dead man has been named locally as Marc Webley.

From enquiries carried out so far, it is understood a red Hyundai Tucson pulled up beside the men in West Granton Road.

The driver exited the vehicle and discharged the firearm before returning to the vehicle and making off travelling eastwards towards Leith.

Detectives believe there was at least one other person within the vehicle at the time of the incident.

Road closures remain in place on West Granton Road and Granton Crescent while police enquiries continue. 

Detective Superintendent Graham Grant said: “An extensive police investigation is ongoing to establish the full circumstances surrounding this incident and we are doing everything we possibly can to identify and trace whoever is responsible.

“We would like to thank members of the public who have assisted our enquiries so far and would continue to ask anyone with information who hasn’t yet spoken to us to please come forward.

“In particular, we are appealing for any information or footage of the suspect vehicle and it’s movements before and after the incident happened. If you saw this vehicle in the surrounding area late on Sunday evening, we would like to hear from you.

“Our thoughts and condolences remain with the family and friends of both men involved.”

Superintendent Sam Ainslie said: “We completely understand local community concern following this shocking incident and would like to reassure members of the public that this is believed to have been an isolated targeted attack.

“Police Scotland takes incidents of this nature extremely seriously, this type of reckless criminality will not be tolerated, and we will do everything in our power to bring the perpetrators to justice.

“Officers continue to carry out extra patrols in the area to provide reassurance and we would urge anyone with concerns or information to contact us via 101 quoting reference 3819 of 31 December. Alternatively, Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111”. 

An online portal has been set up to allow members of the public to send information directly to the police.

This can be accessed here: Public Portal (mipp.police.uk)

Man shot dead in Chester Street

A man has died after a shooting in the West End. Armed police attended the incident in Chester Street at around 8pm last night. The victim is understood  to be former Edinburgh boxer Bradley Welsh, (42),who recently featured in the film Trainspotting 2. Continue reading Man shot dead in Chester Street

Man shot in Leith

Cables Wynd cordoned off

banana flats

A man is being treated in the Royal Infirmary for serious leg injuries following a shooting in Leith late last night. Police found the victim when they responded to a report of a disturbance in Cables Wynd just after 11pm.

Police believe this was an isolated attack and that there is no ongoing threat to the public. Detectives are currently pursuing various lines of inquiry and have appealed for information.

Detective Inspector Alan O’Brien told the BBC: “An extensive investigation is now under way into this incident. Although this is at an early stage I’m satisfied this was an isolated attack and there is no ongoing threat to the wider public.

“An area of Cables Wynd is presently cordoned off as our investigation progresses and I thank the local community for their patience and co-operation. I can also reassure local residents that we will use every resource at our disposal to trace and arrest anyone involved in this crime as quickly as possible.”

If you have any information contact Police Scotland on 101 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111