Police investigating death of council worker Ashley Dale arrest two men, aged 40 and 28, on suspicion of murder and possession of a firearm with intent

  • Ashley Dale, 28, was killed after shots were allegedly fired into her home 
  • Miss Dale was deeply mourned and regarded as a 'rising star' in her workplace

By Stewart Carr

Published: | Updated:

Detectives have today arrested two men in connection with the murder of a 28-year-old council worker who was shot dead in Liverpool last August.

Ashley Dale lost her life after multiple shots were allegedly fired into her house in Old Swan in the early hours of August 21, 2022. 

Police arrived after being called by concerned neighbours who heard shots fired and saw a woman lying on the ground in the property's back yard. She was pronounced dead a short while later. 

A Merseyside Police spokesman said: 'Two men, aged 40 and 28, from the Huyton area [of Liverpool], were arrested on suspicion of murder and possession of a firearm with intent.

Ashley Dale died on Sunday, August 21, after shots were allegedly fired into her home in Old Swann Liverpool

Ashley Dale died on Sunday, August 21, after shots were allegedly fired into her home in Old Swann Liverpool

 'At around 12.40am on Sunday, 21 August 2022, officers were called to an address in Leinster Road following reports of concern for a woman at the property. Emergency services attended and found Ashley in the rear garden with a gunshot wound to her body. Ashley was taken to hospital but sadly died a short time later.'

Miss Dale was considered a 'rising star' at Knowsley Council, where she worked as an Environmental Health Officer. Flowers were left at her desk as colleagues paid tribute to her.

Leader of Knowsley Council, Cllr Graham Morgan said the gesture was made by members of her team at the council 'hit especially hard' by her death. 

Speaking at a meeting of Knowsley Council's cabinet shortly after Miss Dale's death, Cllr Morgan said: 'The council lost a rising star when she was tragically and senselessly killed.'

At her funeral at the Anglican Cathedral in the city, a hearse carrying the white coffin to the entrance displayed the word 'daughter' in white flowers

The order of service for the funeral of Ashley Dale at Liverpool Cathedral

The order of service for the funeral of Ashley Dale at Liverpool Cathedral

Hundreds of mourners flocked to a cathedral in Liverpool to say a final farewell to the council worker

Hundreds of mourners flocked to a cathedral in Liverpool to say a final farewell to the council worker

Miss Dale (pictured) was found with gunshot wounds to the body in the rear garden of her home and pronounced dead a short time later

Miss Dale (pictured) was found with gunshot wounds to the body in the rear garden of her home and pronounced dead a short time later 

He added: 'Myself and Cllr Powell have met with Ashley's team and it goes without saying they are absolutely devastated by her loss.'

In a statement following her death, Ms Dale's family said: 'Ashley, our girl - our shining light. Our hearts are broken into a million pieces. Ashley was a hard-working young woman who had her entire life ahead of her.

'She had just been promoted at her job with Knowsley Council. She had a degree and so many plans for her bright future that had only just begun. Her laugh, smile and energy was infectious in any room.

'We can't come to terms with how this would happen to a defenceless woman in her own home. None of this makes sense and our lives will never be the same again. A senseless crime that has torn a family apart. Justice needs to be brought.'

Her death was one of three unconnected fatal shootings within a week in Liverpool, with nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel killed in her home in Dovecot on August 22 and 22-year-old Sam Rimmer shot in Dingle on August 16.

Merseyside Police added: 'If you haven’t already come forward with information, please pass this directly to our investigation team through our online portal: Public Portal (mipp.police.uk). This will make sure that your information is received and acted on as quickly as possible by detectives.

'You can also contact us via social media @MerPolCC or call 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 quoting reference 22000615873.'

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