Updated Saturday, 8.20pm

Police are holding a man suspected to be behind the fatal shooting of a 58-year-old man and of seriously injuring another in a shooting incident in an Attard garage on Friday night.

The victim... Angelo Mangion.The victim... Angelo Mangion.

The main suspect is being questioned following the shooting which left the Attard community in shock. During the afternoon, he was taken to Mater Dei Hospital for a check up. The motive behind the murder is still unknown.

The police said the incident happened in Mdina Road around 6.20pm when the victim, identified as Angelo Mangion from Qormi, entered the garage where Raymond Grima runs his upholstery business with his son.

Seconds later a man wearing a helmet entered the shop and opened fire on the two men, although police believe Mr Mangion was his primary target.

The victim was hit by three shots while Mr Grima, probably caught in the line of
fire, was also hit three times. Around 10 shots were fired in all.

On Saturday night, the police said Mr Grima remained in critical condition, while an autopsy was carried out on Mr Mangion.

Sources told Times of Malta this was the little information that investigators had managed to collect from Mr Grima on his way to hospital and before he was rushed into the operating theatre. The store owner is a father of three, including a son who left the store just an hour before the shooting.

The sources said the aggressor made his getaway on a motorbike, on which he had arrived on the scene. It does not seem there was an accomplice on the bike waiting for the aggressor before making a getaway.

The busy street was closed off to traffic while the police mounted a nationwide search for the killer who was seen speeding away from the scene in the direction of Rabat.

On Friday night, the police were seen inspecting residences and businesses in the area with the hope that some CCTV footage is retrieved. Four men from Qormi were believed to have questioned throughout the night.

The garage where the murder took place.The garage where the murder took place.

Residents say they're scared

Residents who spoke to Times of Malta on Saturday said they were terrified after hearing about the shooting. None of them said they knew the victim. 

"We grew up together here in Attard. What's going on? Are we turning into the United States," one resident who lives near the workshop said.

Writing on Facebook, the victim's daughter wrote: "Why did they you away from us so innocently? You were so happy to go inspect the motorbike seat.

The police also appealed to the public for information, which may be passed on in confidence on number 119.

Duty Magistrate Aaron Bugeja was on site to conduct his on-site inquiry. He appointed a number of court experts to assist him with the investigations.

Police Commissioner Lawrence Cutajar was also on site along with other top police officials, including Assistant Commissioner Silvio Valletta and senior superintendent Anthony Cassar, among others.

This is the seventh murder committed this year, the first following the assassination of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, who was killed in a car bomb at Bidnija on October 16.

Photo: Mark Zammit CordinaPhoto: Mark Zammit Cordina

Video: Matthew Xuereb

 

 

 

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