Appeal to catch takeaway killers

Halton McCollin was in the takeaway with friends

The family of a man who was shot in a takeaway in Greater Manchester have made an appeal to catch his killers.

Halton McCollin, 20, was shot in the head in the China Garden in Stretford on 22 January.

His father, also called Halton, said: "Someone, somewhere out there knows who has killed my son." The victim was not involved in gang culture, police said.

Officers are appealing for help to trace a blue Vauxhall Vectra used by the killers to flee the scene.

Mr McCollin snr, 53, said that hearing his son had been shot was the "worst moment" of his life.

"If something like this could happen to Halton, who was not connected or involved with the gang-type culture that we have around Britain, then it could happen to anyone," he said.

"When someone rings up and says 'Dad, Dad, Halton has been shot' it is not something that you can readily deal with.

I am not supposed to be burying my son. This is not how it should be Halton McCollin snr

"I went fuzzy. I did not want to hear what was being said. It was the worst possible moment of my life.

"I am not supposed to be burying my son. This is not how it should be."

The victim's sister, Terri-Ann, added: "My brother was murdered in cold blood. Halton was so special to our family.

"Everyone that met him instantly fell in love with him. For me he was my strength, my smile, my inspiration, my everything."

Police said the killers fled the scene in a blue Vauxhall Vectra

Three men are believed to be involved in the shooting of Mr McCollin, who played semi-professionally for Flixton Football Club. He died in hospital three days after the attack.

Two masked men were seen running towards the takeaway from a nearby alley just before the shooting, while a third walked up the road past the Gorse Hill pub.

Two of the masked men then ran into the China Garden and fired three shots, one of which hit Mr McCollin.

After the attack the three men ran down the alleyway by the Gorse Hill pub, got into a dark blue Vauxhall Vectra parked in a car park behind the pub and drove away towards Talbot Road.

Det Supt Darren Shenton said: "I know there are people who can help me, but they are staying quiet.

"Halton was not a gang-member, he was a hard-working young man who earned a decent wage and had just gone to a chip shop with his friends to get some food."