Pub Shooting: Man Charged With Murder

A man has been charged with the murder of a 23-year-old at a pub in Greater Manchester earlier this year.

Mark Short was killed and three others hurt after a masked gunman opened fire at a pub where a 60th birthday party was being held in May.

Police have charged Mathew James, 32, with one count of murder and three counts of attempted murder. He will appear at Manchester Magistrates Court on Monday.

Two other men have already been charged in connection with the shooting.

On Friday 46-year-old David Short, Mark's father, died after suffering multiple bullet and blast injuries in a grenade and attack in Clayton, Manchester, on Friday.

Nine minutes later the force received reports that shots had been fired at a second property, on Luke Road, Droylsden, where detectives say there was also a grenade blast. Nobody was injured in this incident.

Greater Manchester Police said a 37-year-old man was arrested on Saturday night in connection with the attack in Clayton and the second one in Droylsden.

Police are still searching for 29-year-old Dale Cregan - who is wanted in connection with Mark Short's murder - for questioning over Friday's incidents.

Armed police have begun high-visibility patrols in the Clayton and Droylsden areas since the attacks took place.

Assistant Chief Constable Garry Shewan said: "We have dedicated a significant amount of officers to identify those involved in the violent attacks which have left one man dead, but also to carry out intensive patrols in the area to reassure people living there.

"We have made significant advances in the police investigation over the past couple of days and a man was arrested last night in the Salford area.

"Our inquiries are still very much ongoing and our main priority continues to be finding Dale Cregan, so we can arrest him and speak to him about these incidents. We are appealing to the public to help us to do this."

Members of the public are warned not to approach Cregan - who has a false eye - but to contact officers if they see him.

Police also want to make clear that Cregan sometimes uses a normal-looking false eye, as well a false black eye as depicted in earlier hand-out photographs.

Michelle Short, the wife of David and mother of Mark, paid tribute to her husband in a statement released by police.

She said: "Dave was a loving husband, a fantastic father to Stacey and Mark and an amazing grandad to Maddisson, Karson and Mark Junior, who he idolised.

"Dave's family was everything to him, he would always be there for family and friends when they needed him.

"They have taken my son Mark and now my loving husband Dave.

"They may have broken our hearts but they will never break our spirits. One way or another we shall get through this.

"I will always love you and you will always be in our hearts, forever and eternity."

Anyone with any information is asked to call police on 0161 856 3301 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.