‘Suicide by cop’ may have motivated gunman’s rampage, court hears

A gunman who fired an AK47-style firearm inside a shop and at a cinema on Merseyside may have been seeking “suicide by cop”, a court has heard.

Leslie Garrett, 49, sparked widespread panic in Liverpool in January when he fired at a number of locations.

No one was injured in the shootings, but parts of the city were placed in lockdown as the former security guard ran amok.

Garrett, who has pleaded guilty to a number of firearms offences, had been due to be sentenced on Friday, but the hearing was adjourned after a psychiatric report suggested he may have wanted to be shot dead by armed police called to the scene.

Details of his alleged motivation were contained in a “basis of plea”, but prosecutors said they had not previously been made aware of the claim.

The court heard how on the evening of Jan 3, Garrett had opened fire at a newsagents in Norris Green, had threatened staff and discharged his weapon outside the Showcase Cinema in Croxteth and had shot at a house in Malpas Road.

Merseyside Police had declared a major incident and said it was the first time the force had “had to deal with something of this nature on the streets of Merseyside”.

‘Stress and anxiety’

Garrett was subsequently arrested by armed police at home.

The court heard Garrett was now claiming he had agreed to mind “an item” for money then later discovered it was a gun and ammunition.

He claimed the real owner was arrested and remanded into custody, so he held the items for longer than anticipated, causing him “stress and anxiety”.

The court was told he had been suffering from poor mental health and in his written basis of plea had said: “I committed the offences with the wish to be killed by police attending the scene.”

Paul Lewis, defending, said Garrett had a “limited history” in the courts and opened up about his motivation for the shooting spree while speaking to forensic psychiatrist, Dr Inti Qurashi.

But Judge David Aubrey KC, said previously when asked for an explanation, Garrett had insisted it was a “moment of madness” and “senseless”.

‘Doctor’s interpretation’

Judge Aubrey suggested Garrett had never before “positively asserted” he carried out the shooting so as to be shot by armed police responders, but that “suicide by cop” was Dr Qurashi’s suggestion.

David Birrell, prosecuting, added: “The motivation is the doctor’s interpretation.”

Prosecutors have now asked for their own psychiatrist to assess Garrett before a further sentencing hearing.

Garrett was remanded in custody until June 6.