Man shot in Reading’s Prospect Park – police launch probe
A man has been airlifted to hospital after being shot in Prospect Park, Reading, this evening. The shooting took place near the 1 Road side of the park, close to a children’s playground.
Chaos at the scene: Car riddled with bullets, residents rush to help
A blue Peugeot 306 was left with its windows smashed and a flat tyre, parked on the footpath near the incident. Nearby residents used bedspreads to help stem the victim’s bleeding before emergency services arrived. The air ambulance landed in the centre of the park as a large police presence swarmed the area.
Victim stable but targeted attack sparks community fears
The victim, a 23-year-old man, was found at the scene with a gunshot wound. He was quickly airlifted to hospital and is now in a stable condition.
Supt Stan Gilmour, Local Policing Area Commander for 1, said: “This attack appears to have been targeted against an individual and does not represent a threat to the community. A thorough investigation is underway, so you’ll see an increased police presence in the area over the coming days.”
Police appeal for witnesses as road remains closed
Tilehurst Road remains closed while officers continue their investigation. Detective Inspector Jon Groenen from Force CID at Reading Police Station urged anyone with information or who witnessed the shooting to come forward.
“If you don’t want to talk directly to the police, you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. No personal details are taken, information is not traced or recorded.”
Police thanked the public for their cooperation during the ongoing investigation.
