Law Student shot by accident

A student lawyer, who also helped local charities, was shot by accident as she was walking passed a nearby car wash company. Aya Hachem, aged 19, died as the result of a gunshot wound to the chest on May 17th.  

 

The bullet came from a passing car as she was walking to a local Blackburn supermarket. 

 

There have been no suggestions this formed a terrorist attack or racist incident with the suspicion being that the gunmen were aiming to hit something, or someone, behind Miss Hachem. 

 

A video has subsequently been posted online showing a car slowly driving past Aya as she walked along King St, before she suddenly falls to the pavement. Further shots were fired at the "Quick Tyre and Quick Shine" car wash business. A green Toyota Avensis was left abandoned a short distance from the incident.

 

Subsequently three males, all in their 30s, were arrested by Lancashire Police on suspicion of murder. A Lancashire Police spokesman said he was aware of videos on social media and asked people to report them.

 

Detective Superintendant Andy Cribbin commented, "Our determination to find who was responsible for the death of Aya continues, and we have a large team of detectives working on the inquiry. We know of a number of videos of the incident on social media, and it is important that people formally report these to us as they are potential evidence."

 

"We would also ask people, even if they are well intentioned, not to share these videos, out of respect for Aya and her family."

 

It has since become known that Miss Hachem's family fled to Britain from war-torn Lebanon 10 years ago after her father was shot. He subsequently moved the family to England hoping for a new life.

 

Whitestone Solicitors

Rochdale