Man shot during chip shop run in 'mistaken identity' incident

Man shot during chip shop run in 'mistaken identity' incident Daniel Lawless was caught on camera showing the weapon off to his friends in a pub car park before shooting innocent victim David Forbes in what a court heard was a case of mistaken identity An innocent man was shot in the legs with a shotgun outside his own home while on his way to the chip shop. Daniel Lawless was caught on camera "showing the weapon off to his friends" in a pub car park before shooting his victim in what appeared to be a case of mistaken identity. The shocking incident was said to have occurred against a backdrop of "petty, tit-for-tat retaliation" between rival gangs, leaving the bloodied victim dragging himself back into his house for safety and asking: "Why did he still shoot me if I wasn't the person he wanted to shoot? It was nothing to do with me." Liverpool Crown Court heard on Friday afternoon that David Forbes left his home on the evening of February 28 last year and headed towards a chip shop to collect food for his family. Having crossed Cubert Road in Croxteth, he spotted a masked Lawless dropping a white plastic bag and charging towards him. Simon Christie, prosecuting, described how the 23-year-old, of no fixed address, was clad in all black clothing and "mumbled something indistinct" before levelling a shotgun at Mr Forbes, who "has no connection whatsoever with the defendant or any of his associates", and pulling the trigger. The victim recalled a "bang and a flash" before crumpling to the ground and realising he had been struck in the legs, reports the Liverpool Echo. Mr Forbes then "dragged himself back to his house", where his stepson recalled him entering the property and crying "I've been shot". Mr Christie added: "Mr Forbes believed this to be a case of mistaken identity. He was entirely correct. This was a deliberate shooting of a wholly innocent person who was nothing whatsoever to do with the defendant." The attack left Mr Forbes with "nasty injuries to his lower leg", having initially spent a fortnight in hospital before later being readmitted for four weeks after developing blood clots. He has since undergone numerous operations and skin grafts, and still has hundreds of shotgun pellets embedded within his legs. Unable to attend the sentencing hearing due to ongoing medical treatment, Mr Forbes had a statement read to the court on his behalf: "I wanted to look at him directly and ask him why? I have no knowledge of why this happened. "I was the wrong person at the wrong time. I'm glad it happened to me. Initially, my stepson was going to the chip shop. I decided to go instead. He's struggled with what's happened and struggled with his exams during his third year at university. "I'd just like to know why he did this to me. I was just going to the shop. Why did he still shoot me if I wasn't the person he wanted to shoot? It was nothing to do with me." CCTV recordings previously captured Lawless departing a property on Petherick Road on foot just after 10pm, making his way to the car park of the Lobster pub. There, he was filmed retrieving the shotgun from his carrier bag and displaying the weapon to three men standing outside. After walking away to carry out the attack, he fled the scene, briefly reappeared and departed once more, during which time he was seen "gesturing towards the males in the car park". Returning to Petherick Road, Lawless was recorded getting into a stationary vehicle approximately 20 minutes later with a backpack before "disappearing". He then came back to the property in a taxi at roughly 7.15am the next morning dressed in a dressing gown and carrying a black rucksack, with officers never recovering the firearm. Lawless' criminal history includes a 10-month sentence for making threats with an offensive weapon in a public place in January 2023. He was subsequently given five years and four months for wounding with intent in July 2025, having "thrown boiling hot sugar water over his cellmate, causing significant injuries" while incarcerated. Charles Lander, defending, informed the court that Lawless had experienced the loss of his grandmother earlier this week before stating: "It is accepted that Mr Forbes is an entirely innocent victim of the defendant's behaviour. This young defendant is clearly facing a lengthy period of imprisonment. "Clearly, probation and the Prison Service are trying to work with him. He is a defendant who suffers with a number of issues. His parents have come to court. They have been highly supportive throughout these proceedings. "They express their utmost sympathy to Mr Forbes and his family. They cannot believe that they are in a position where they are sitting in a courtroom listening to these serious acts committed by their son. "The defendant has taken the opportunity of finding trusted employment as wing cleaner in prison. Clearly, there have been some concerns about how he has behaved in prison. There have been significant issues with his mental health. "His position in prison has been made more difficult by threats that are being made. Clearly, these are threats that have been persisting for some time. Obviously, the defendant dealt with one threat in a highly disproportionate way by obtaining a weapon in February of last year. "He is still relatively young. He is determined, when released from prison, that he is going to leave Liverpool, leave the various associates who he stupidly hung around with in the younger part of his life and, ultimately, be a member of society his parents can be proud of." Williams admitted wounding with intent and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, with a previous charge of attempted murder being ordered to lie on the file. Appearing via video link to HMP Liverpool, he appeared to wipe his eyes with his blue Montirex t-shirt before he was jailed for 18-and-a-half years and handed an additional four years on licence. Passing sentence, Judge Garrett Byrne stated: "Mr Forbes was a totally innocent member of the public. He did not know you. He did not associate with you or any of your friends. He had nothing to do with any criminal group. He was simply walking to a chip shop to get some food. "You left your home carrying a loaded shotgun in a plastic bag. Your face was covered. You intended to shoot someone as part of some petty, tit-for-tat retaliation. You showed the weapon off to your friends. "What happened next has been captured quite clearly on CCTV. You pointed the weapon at Mr Forbes and discharged it once at close proximity. Mr Forbes managed to drag himself back to his home address, badly injured and covered in blood. He sustained serious injuries to both legs below the knees. "His injuries required several bouts of surgery. Mr Forbes speaks to both the ongoing physical and psychological harm that he experiences. He can no longer do many things he previously enjoyed doing and had to give up his job. "The unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition are of grave concern to society. They can be used to main and kill. Innocent members of the public, as in this case, are put at risk of serious injury or worse. "There are permanent and irreversible injuries here. A significant aggravating feature is your previous convictions. I find no particularly compelling mitigation."