Young Bogside man, Emmett Sheils, who was murdered in cold blood in the early hours of Tuesday morning, died trying to defend others.

By Ursula Duddy

ursula@derrynews.net

At a police press conference held at the scene of the murder on Tuesday afternoon, Senior Investigating Officer, DCI Frankie Taylor described the 22 year old as ‘totally innocent’ and said his presence at the scene was ‘purely coincidence’.

DCI Taylor said an incident had taken place in the Abbot’s Walk area where shots were fired then a short time later when Mr Sheils was driving his pizza delivery van along Lone Moor Road, he saw a number of men, some of whom he is thought to have known, being chased by masked men wearing camouflaged clothing.

He exited his van at Eastway, where he spoke to those being chased. Those in pursuit then caught up with the others and the fatal shot was discharged at approximately 12.45am.

Inspector Taylor said: “Mr Shiels was purely innocent in all of this he had no part in any violence prior to or during the incident where he was shot.”

DCI Taylor paid tribute to the young man: “By all accounts, Emmett was a very highly regarded member of the Derry community. He’s lived here all his life and is a very well known individual and certainly nothing that Emmett has ever done would justify what has happened to him.”

He also condemned those that carried out the attack: “I want to make it abundantly clear, these are gangsters who came into this area to carry out a very violent attack and somebody has ended up dead.”

At least two shots were fired in the area of Bligh’s Lane and more shots are thought to have been fired at the earlier incident in Abbot’s Walk.

Two vehicles, a car and a van, have been seized in connection with the shooting.

Senior Investigating Officer, DCI Frankie Taylor urged anyone with any information on both incidents in Abbot’s Walk and Eastway to come forward not only with intelligence but with evidence.

DCI Taylor said: “We have been working very closely with the family and on their behalf I would like to urge anyone that has information to come forward to the police and assist the investigation.”