A leading detective investigating a murder into a Carlisle man says emergency services “did everything they could” to save him.
Police believe two suspects carried out the attack on 24-year-old Ryan Kirkpatrick on Saturday night, with a number of offenders playing supporting roles such as assisting an offender and feeding false information to officers.
Detectives are continuing to search for offenders who they believe were involved in both the violence and the supporting roles.
Officers were called at 8.48pm to Carlyle’s Court in Carlisle city centre, just outside Mamoa Bar and Lounge.
“There were two assailants who had their faces covered,” said Detective Chief Superintendent Dean Holden.
“From CCTV this was ultimately a targetted attack where the assailants and the victim knew each other.
“This was not born out of an escalation of violence between strangers, it was a targeted attack and the victim happened to be in the city centre socialising with friends.
“Had the victim been anywhere else I suspect he would have still been attacked. Police officers attended and were backed up by paramedics who worked for at least 15 minutes to save Ryan but there was nothing they could have done.
“We know from the post mortem there was nothing they could have done. The effort put in by frontline officers and paramedics was second to none.”
Anyone with information can report online at www.cumbria.police.uk/reportit
You can also call 101.
Alternatively, you can call the independent charity Crimestoppers, completely anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
Police have identified the man who was killed. Read his family’s tributes here.
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