Cops investigating three separate shootings after gunman went on rampage recover firearm

COPS investigating three separate shootings after a gunman went on a rampage have recovered a firearm.

Armed Police raced to Showcase Cinema in Liverpool, Merseyside, and were forced to put the venue in lockdown as terrified families watched the new Wonka movie.

They’d received reports that a man had come into the foyer and threatened staff at around 8.50pm on Wednesday before fleeing.

Merseyside Police revealed yesterday that they have recovered a weapon, believed to be an assault rifle, from a nearby property.

They made the discovery on Thursday evening.

A force spokesman said: “It has been forensically recovered and tests will be carried out to establish if it is a viable firearm.”

A 49-year-old man from the Fazakerley area of Liverpool, arrested on suspicion of possession of a Section 1 firearm with intent to endanger life and robbery, remains in custody and enquiries remain ongoing.

Just 50 minutes before the alleged gunman terrorised cinema-goers, he had threatened a shop assistant at the newsagent's less than a mile away, cops said.

CCTV footage from inside the store shows a man wearing a parka coat with the hood up, tracksuit bottoms and flipflops fire a single shot.

Gunshots were also later heard at a nearby property at around 10.20pm.

Nobody was injured in the shootings.