Wakefield drive-by shooting 'murder' as police hunt car with fake plates

Police have launched an urgent search for a car sporting fake plates after a man was shot dead in a drive-by shooting.

West Yorkshire Police launched a murder investigation after a man died in a shooting on Doncaster Road in Wakefield near to the BP petrol station. Emergency services rushed to the scene following the gun discharge at 9.43pm on Tuesday, the force said, and the man, believed to be in his 50s and from the local area, was taken to hospital.

He sadly died after he was admitted, and police have since launched a search for a car believed to have been used in the offence that was outfitted with false plates.

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A spokesperson for West Yorkshire Police said the vehicle they are seeking is a "distinctive" blue-grey coloured Toyota RAV4 with a grey trim. They added the car, which was stolen in a burglary in Castleford on August 3, had cloned plates showing FV53FXT. The service described it as being especially distinctive due to there being bull lights installed on its roof above the windshield.

Detective Chief Inspector James Entwistle, of West Yorkshire Police’s Homicide and Major Enquiry Team, said it was a "priority" for the service to identify the car.

He said: “A man has lost his life, and it is an absolute priority for us to understand the circumstances of what has taken place and identify anyone who has had any involvement in this incident. We understand that the vehicle used in this offence was on false plates and was stolen in a burglary in Castleford on 3 August.

"The vehicle is particularly distinctive because of the bull lights fitted to the vehicle. We are interested in speaking to anyone who believes they have seen this RAV4 following this burglary, around the time of this offence and since. The vehicle may now be displaying different plates.

"Motorists who were in the Doncaster Road area last night who have dashcams fitted are also asked to check whether they have captured any footage of this vehicle.

"The driver was driving in the direction of Wakefield before they have turned around near the BP petrol station immediately prior to the shooting and then driven off in the direction they came from.

"We understand the shock and concern that an incident of this nature will cause, particularly given that a firearm has been involved. We are dedicating significant resources to this investigation and our neighbourhood policing colleagues are supporting this with an increased presence in the area to provide reassurance to the community.”