Police investigating the death of council worker Ashley Dale arrest two men, aged 40 and 28, on suspicion of murder and intentional possession of a firearm
- Ashley Dale, 28, was killed after shots were allegedly fired at her home
- Miss Dale was deeply mourned and considered a ‘rising star’ in her workplace
Detectives 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 reportedly fired at her home in Old Swan in the early hours of August 21, 2022.
Police arrived after being called by concerned neighbors who heard gunshots and saw a woman lying on the ground in the backyard of the property. She was pronounced dead shortly thereafter.
A Merseyside Police spokesman said: “Two men, aged 40 and 28, from the Huyton area [of Liverpool]were arrested on suspicion of murder and intentional possession of a firearm.
Ashley Dale died on Sunday August 21 after shots were reportedly fired at her home at Old Swann Liverpool
“At approximately 12.40pm on Sunday August 21, 2022, officers were called to an address in Leinster Road following reports of concern for a woman at the property. Emergency services responded and found Ashley in the back garden with a gunshot wound to the body. Ashley was rushed to hospital but sadly passed away shortly after.
Miss Dale was considered a ‘rising star’ at Knowsley Council, where she worked as an environmental health officer. Flowers were laid on her desk as colleagues paid their respects.
Knowsley Council leader Cllr Graham Morgan said the gesture was made by members of his team on the council “particularly affected” by his death.
Speaking at a Knowsley council cabinet meeting shortly after Miss Dale’s death, Cllr Morgan said: ‘The council lost a rising star when she was tragically and senselessly killed.’
During her funeral at the city’s Anglican cathedral, a hearse carrying the white coffin to the entrance displayed the word ‘daughter’ in white flowers
The Order of Service for Ashley Dale’s funeral at Liverpool Cathedral
Hundreds of mourners flocked to a Liverpool cathedral to say a final goodbye to the council worker
Miss Dale (pictured) was found with gunshot wounds to her body in the back garden of her home and pronounced dead a short time later
He added: “Myself and Cllr Powell have met Ashley’s team and needless to say they are absolutely devastated by her loss.”
In a statement after her death, Ms Dale’s family said: ‘Ashley, our daughter – our shining light. Our hearts are broken into a million pieces. Ashley was a hardworking young woman who had her whole life ahead of her.
“She had just been promoted to her post at Knowsley Council. She had a degree and so many plans for her bright future which was just beginning. Her laugh, her smile and her energy were contagious in any room.
“We cannot understand how this would happen to a helpless woman in her own home. None of this makes sense and our lives will never be the same again. A senseless crime that tore a family apart. Justice must be served.
His death was one of three unrelated fatal shootings in a week in Liverpool, with Olivia Pratt-Korbel, nine, killed at her home in Dovecot on August 22 and Sam Rimmer, 22, shot dead in Dingle on August 16.
Merseyside Police added: “If you haven’t provided any information yet, please forward it directly to our investigation team through our online portal: Public Portal (mipp.police.uk). This will ensure that your information is received and processed 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.”
