Man Murdered In South Belfast Named

The man murdered in a shooting attack in south Belfast has been named.

Stephen Carson (28) was shot at his home at around 10.45pm on Thursday.

It is understand that at least three men, armed with a shotgun and a hammer, entered the house in Walmer Street.

There was a confrontation and Mr Carson made his way into the downstairs bathroom. A shot was fired through the bathroom door and Mr Carson suffered a fatal head injury.

His 26-year-old partner and nine-year-old son were left in the house as the killers made their escape on foot in the direction of Haywood Avenue. A fourth man may have been outside the house during the murder. His partner and son were not physically injured but have been severely traumatised, police said.

The officer leading the investigation, Detective Superintendent Kevin Geddes from Serious Crime Branch, said: "Our main line of enquiry, but not our only line of enquiry, is that Stephen was shot as part of a criminal feud. We do not believe at this stage there was any paramilitary involvement nor do we believe this was sectarian.

"I have a number of appeals. I want to hear from:

• Anyone who was in the area of Walmer street and Kimberly Street around 10:45pm last night.

• Anyone who saw three or four men in that area around that time.

• Anyone who saw any suspicious or strange behaviour at or near 77 Walmer Street yesterday.

• Anyone who saw a silver taxi, possibly a Mercedes, which was in Walmer Street at the time of the incident around 10:45pm.

"This was a cold-blooded and brutal murder. These are not convenient labels to describe what happened last night. They are an honest opinion about the horrific events which took place in 77 Walmer Street. It is vital that Stephen Carson's killers are caught and brought before the courts."

(CD/MH)