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The mother of a 22-year-old man gunned down by e-bike riders three years ago says she "died the same day" as her son, as she makes a desperate anniversary plea for justice. Sam Rimmer was shot in the back on Lavrock Bank, Dingle, Liverpool on August 16, 2022, when attackers rode by on e-bikes and fired at him and his friends.
Sam died shortly after being shot, despite emergency treatment at hospital. Ten people have been arrested in connection with his murder, but no charges have been filed.
Manchester Evening News reports that a Skorpion sub-machine gun was used in the attack, with eight bullets fired at 11.40pm. The shooting occurred during what police believe was a gang-related dispute that had been escalating in the Dingle area over a 12 to 18-month period.
Mother's heartbreaking trauma
Joanne Rimmer described the years following his murder as "painful" and "traumatic", adding: "The passing of time has not eased the pain." She said: "People say to cherish the memories, but when I think of Sam, the memory I have is of his body in the morgue, staring at his chest willing him to breathe."
She said: "No parent should ever have to identify their child's body." Joanne revealed: "Unless you have experienced the murder of your child, you cannot begin to understand the agonising, torturous mental and emotional horror we endure daily. The ache of my heart just to see my son again."
According to Manchester Evening News, Sam was a father-to-be at the time of his death. His son was born in January 2023, sharing the same birthday month as both Sam and his mother.
Desperate plea for justice
The grieving mother urged anyone with information to come forward anonymously. She said: "Sam was shot in his back. He was turned away from his killers. This image haunts me. In his final moments, was he scared? Was he in pain?"
Revealing she "functions but does not live", she heartbreakingly added: "I died the day Sam did." She said: "I know the pain of losing Sam will never go but if I see justice for his murder, maybe the family and I can begin to move forward and remember the happy memories of Sam."
Manchester Evening News reports the murder occurred during a devastating week that also saw the deaths of Ashley Dale and Olivia Pratt-Korbel in Merseyside.
Police continue investigation
Detective Chief Inspector Steve McGrath said: "Sam's death has had a devastating impact on his family, and in particular his mum, and they deserve to get justice." He added: "It has now been three years since Sam was tragically killed, but we are still determined as ever to find the person or people responsible."
The senior investigating officer said: "We know that there are people out there who live in the Dingle/Toxteth area who know who is responsible and my appeal is for those people to come forward and tell us what they know." Police are particularly seeking information about who was riding the bikes that arrived at Lavrock Bank that night and where they went afterwards.
Anyone with information can contact Merseyside Police via their public portal, @MerPolCC on Twitter, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, quoting reference number 22000603397. McGrath said: "Any information passed on to us will be handled with care and sensitivity, and we can put extensive measures in place to protect those brave enough to come forward."
Sources used: "Daily Mail", "Manchester Evening News" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
