The quiet streets of Huyton, Liverpool, were shattered late on the evening of November 28, 2025, when a man in his 20s was shot twice in the leg on the driveway of a home on Radway Road. The attack, which occurred around 10:20 pm, left the victim in critical condition and set off a major police investigation that has now led to charges of attempted murder against four men—including a former professional footballer and boxer, Patrick Sean Lacey.
According to reports from the Liverpool Echo and other regional outlets, the shooting was carried out by two men riding a Sur-ron electric bike. The brazen nature of the attack, which took place in a residential area, alarmed the local community and prompted an urgent response from Merseyside Police. The victim, whose name has not been released, was rushed to hospital where he remains in serious condition.
After weeks of intensive investigation, police executed a series of coordinated warrants across the Knowsley, Sefton, and Liverpool areas on Thursday, February 19, 2026. These operations resulted in the arrest of four individuals: Patrick Sean Lacey, 32, of Manor Avenue, Crosby; John Aaron Jones, 35, of Stamfordham Drive, Allerton; John George Patrick Hughes, 31, of no fixed abode; and Bernard Flynn, 61, of Knowsley Road, Bootle. All four men have now been charged with attempted murder, conspiracy to murder, possession of a shotgun and ammunition with intent to endanger life, section 18 grievous bodily harm (GBH), and conspiracy to cause GBH.
The accused appeared at Liverpool, Knowsley, Sefton and St Helens Adult Remand Court on the morning of Friday, February 20, 2026. The courtroom was packed as the four men faced the gravity of the charges against them, with the local press and members of the public watching closely. The case has attracted national attention, not least because of Lacey’s high-profile sporting background.
Patrick Lacey’s career has been anything but ordinary. He began as a promising footballer, playing for the youth academies of Tranmere Rovers, Manchester United, and Liverpool. He later featured for clubs including Altrincham, Barrow, Chester, Accrington Stanley, Southport, and most recently Flint Town United in the Cymru Premier, according to North Wales Live and LancsLive. Lacey’s family is well known in football circles; his younger brother, Shea, is a rising star at Manchester United, and another brother, Luis, plays for Macclesfield.
But football was just one chapter. Lacey also pursued a career as a professional boxer, boasting an impressive record. According to Express and Liverpool Echo, he went undefeated in his first ten bouts, with a notable knockout win against Owen Kirk in October 2023. However, his perfect record was broken earlier this month when he lost on points to Jack Swallow at Liverpool’s M&S Bank Arena on February 7, 2026. Some outlets, such as LancsLive, list his record as 10-0 prior to that defeat, while others, including Express, cite a 10-1 or even 12-1 tally, reflecting the rapid developments in his boxing career over the past year.
The other men charged alongside Lacey—Jones, Hughes, and Flynn—have less public profiles, but all face the same serious accusations. The arrest operation was a major undertaking by Merseyside Police, involving multiple warrants and a coordinated effort across several boroughs. Detective Inspector Chris Clark, from the Firearms Investigation Team, addressed the public following the arrests, emphasizing the ongoing nature of the investigation.
“These coordinated warrants were carried out as part of an ongoing investigation, and all four men will appear in court today,” said Clark, as quoted in the Liverpool Echo and North Wales Live. He continued, “Our work continues, so I would ask that people who have yet to come forward still do so. Please do not assume that we already hold information. Our team will make that assessment, and will take the appropriate action. Whether you have a first-hand account, dashcam, CCTV, doorbell or other footage, come forward.”
Authorities have urged anyone with information about the shooting—no matter how minor it may seem—to contact them, referencing police case number 25000975453. They have provided several ways for the public to help: by calling 101, messaging police on social media @MerPolCC, using the Merseyside Police website, or reporting anonymously through the charity Crimestoppers at 0800 555 111.
The incident has shocked the footballing and boxing communities, as well as the wider public. Lacey’s journey from academy prospect to non-league footballer, and then to professional boxer, had been seen by many as a story of resilience and reinvention. His most recent bout, a loss to Jack Swallow, was watched by fans who had followed his unique dual-sport career. Now, the focus has shifted dramatically from sporting achievements to the grim reality of the charges he faces.
For the victim and his family, the ordeal is ongoing. The young man’s critical injuries have underscored the severity of gun violence in Merseyside, an issue that has troubled the region for years. The use of a Sur-ron electric bike in the attack is also a detail that stands out—these bikes have become increasingly associated with rapid, targeted crimes in urban areas, as noted in recent police briefings.
Meanwhile, the Lacey family finds itself thrust into the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. With Shea Lacey’s burgeoning football career at Manchester United and Luis’s progress at Macclesfield, the family had been making headlines for sporting promise. Now, the focus is on the legal proceedings and the serious allegations against Patrick.
The case is expected to progress through the courts over the coming months, with Merseyside Police continuing to appeal for witnesses and information. The community in Huyton, still reeling from the November shooting, waits anxiously for answers—and for justice.
As this story unfolds, all eyes remain on Liverpool’s courts, where the intersection of sport, crime, and community safety is playing out in real time. The outcome will not only affect the accused and the victim, but will also send ripples through the local area and the sporting world at large.
For now, the investigation continues, and authorities urge anyone with even the smallest piece of information to step forward—because sometimes, it’s the smallest details that make all the difference.