Gardaí seize high-powered rifle as they investigate if young man (20) shot dead in Dublin attack was set up by his own associates

Gardaí are investigating if the victim – named as 20-year-old Josh Itseli – was set up by his own associates when the car he was travelling in was rammed and he was shot dead shortly after midnight.

Detectives are also investigating if a violent young criminal, who is aged in his early 20s and suspected of previous gun attacks, was directly involved.

The suspect in custody is also under investigation for a violent assault on a young woman in the city recently with gardaí having grown "increasingly concerned" about his escalating involvement in criminality.

The Army bomb squad were called in to deal with a suspect device after the attack in which Mr Itseli was killed in a hail of bullets last night, it has emerged.

Locals have told of being woken by the sound of gunfire and cars being rammed as the victim, aged 20, was targeted from a moving vehicle.

The victim of the murder has been named by people close to his family as 20-year-old Josh Itseli.

They said his family had been contacted by gardaí about the attack.

They said Mr Itseli was born and grew up in Dublin and spent most of life in Dublin 15 but that he had been living elsewhere with his mother recently.

One woman said the scenes were “like something from the Wild West” and that more than 20 shots were fired.

It is believed attackers in a moving car targeted a man in another car on Knocknarea Road in Drimnagh shortly after midnight.

Locals said the attackers may have tried to escape by reversing their vehicle up the road, but crashed into a tree and other vehicles before they ran off.

Three males, two in their 20s and another in his teens, were arrested near the scene, in a residential area near a school and church, while three wrecked cars are the focus of garda inquiries.

The dead man’s body remained at the scene this afternoon while a post-mortem examination was being arranged and garda forensic experts examined the area.

Speaking at Sundrive garda station on Monday afternoon, Supt Paul Maher said gardaí got a number of calls about shots being fired at Knocknarea Road in Drimnagh area at around 12.15am.

“Gardaí responding to the scene discovered two vehicles, a Mercedes and a VW Golf, which appeared to have been in a collision. A male in his early 20s was discovered with gunshot wounds,” he said.

“Responding gardaí offered first aid, and despite attempts by gardaí and Dublin Fire Brigade paramedics, the male was pronounced deceased at the scene, and our thoughts are with the deceased’s family at this time.”

“Gardaí became aware of a potential explosive device at Knocknarea Court. The Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal team was requested to attend the scene and the device was made safe and removed.”

“Shortly after the reports of the shooting the garda regional Armed Support Unit encountered three men on Slievebloom Road. Two are in their early 20s and one is a teenage youth. The three men were arrested.”

Supt Maher said a number of other vehicles were damaged on Knocknarea Road and remain part of the scene and the garda technical examination.

“Another vehicle of interest has been identified on Sperrin Road, and is also the subject of technical examination at the moment, and this is a silver Ford Focus. An incident room has been established at Sundrive Road garda station.”

Supt Maher said investigating gardai are appealing for any witnesses to this incident to come forward.

"In particular we are appealing for anyone with dashcam or other footage and who were in the Knocknarea Road area last night between 11.30pm and 12.30am to make that footage available to An Garda Siochana,” he said.

“We are also appealing for anyone with CCTV footage in the wider area of Cooley Road, Brandon Road, Errigal Gardens, Crumlin Road, Slievenamon Road, Mourne Road and the associated side roads and who were in or around the Knocknarea area to make that available.

“Anyone with any information is asked to contact Sundrive Road garda station on 01 6666600 or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666111, or any garda station.”

It is understood gardaí are also searching for a van that may be connected to the killing.

The Defence Forces confirmed its bomb disposal experts had been called in to deal with a suspect device in the aftermath of the attack.

“On Sunday night, Defence Forces Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) experts responded to a request for assistance from An Garda Síochána, in relation to a potential explosive device in the Dublin City region,” a spokesperson said.

“Following an assessment by our EOD team, this device was removed from the scene and the scene was made safe. This operation has concluded and all elements have been returned to Barracks.”

‘It was like something from the Wild West’

One local resident said she was awoken by the sound of gunfire.

“It seems there was shots fired from a moving car at a second car, and then there was a crash. Then I could hear around 20 shots or more and a lot of shouting,” she said.

“Then a car reversed up the road at speed and I've heard since that it was crashing into things as it was moving back, and it drove away. It was like something from the Wild West.”

Other residents told of seeing a car chase on the road just before the gun attack.

Two badly damaged cars, a Volkswagen Golf and a Mercedes, are still at the scene after colliding at the junction of Curlew Road and Knocknarea Road outside Our Lady's school.

On nearby Sperrin Road, gardaí sealed off the road near a church where there was a silver Ford Focus with severe damage.

The rear passenger side was crushed and the rear light cluster on the driver’s side was dislodged. There was also damage to the front of the car and the two tyres on the passenger side were punctured, with damage to the wheel rims. The rear door on the passenger side was open and the rear windows were open.

Another local resident said she heard two cars crash before hearing bursts of gunfire and shouting.

“It was late and the first thing we heard was the crash, and then very quickly there was around 10 shots in bursts of three of four. We dropped to the floor in the house, and we could hear shouting,” she said.

“Then when we felt it was safe and the emergency services arrived we could see the medics down around the driver's door of one of the cars but outside it.”

Gardaí said they were investigating the fatal shooting of a man in the early hours of Monday.

At about 12.15am, a man sustained fatal injuries after being targeted on the Knocknarea Road in the Crumlin-Drimnagh area of Dublin 12, gardaí said.

‘An attack on the whole community’

Justice Minister Helen McEntee criticised the attack.

“The attack in Drimnagh last night was completely unacceptable and is not something we will tolerate on our streets," she said.

“I commend the Gardaí for responding quickly, resulting in the speedy arrest of suspects.

“Tackling crime and ensuring safer streets continues to be a top priority for An Garda Síochána and the Government.”

Sinn Féin councillor and one of the party’s candidates for European elections in Dublin, Daithí Doolan, lives a five-minute bike ride away from the scene of the crime.

He said he was awoken “very late last night” by a helicopter flying over his house. He said this would not be unusual, but the helicopter flew over the houses for a long period of time.

“What made it unusual was the length of time it was there,” he said.

“But we didn’t expect to wake up to the news this morning that a young man was shot dead.

“Last night's shooting here in Drimnagh has left a young man dead, a family grieving and a community in shock. It was an attack on the whole community.

“It is hugely important that those involved in this terrible incident are apprehended and are brought to justice."

The scene is currently preserved for examination by the Garda Technical Bureau.

Three men have been arrested and are being detained at Garda stations in the Dublin Region under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act 1939.

The investigation into the incident is being led by a Senior Investigating Officer (SIO) and an incident room has been established at Sundrive Road garda station.

Gardaí are appealing for any witnesses to these incidents to come forward.

Anyone with any information that can assist gardaí with their investigation is asked to contact Sundrive Road garda station on 01 666 6600, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any garda station.

More to follow...