You are in > manchester.com  > News > Teenage romance ends in shooting tragedy

General Manchester news

Teenage romance ends in shooting tragedy

12/06/2006

A teenage romance that ended up with two young people dead has shocked residents in Salford and Greater Manchester.

Joshua Thompson, 18, shot his 15-year-old ex-girlfriend Kally Gilligan of Salford, in the head with a shotgun, before turning the weapon on himself.

Both youngsters died of their wounds in an incident that has been described as "tragic" by friends and families of the teenagers.

Residents report that Thompson was obsessed with Kally and sent her a 20-page letter a few days before the incident.

A family neighbour told the Guardian: "I was in the bathroom when I heard two shots. Then there were more shots and I heard this girl screaming outside and running up and down the street shouting for help.

"I know this place has got a bad name but I have been here a year and a half, maybe two years and there has never been any trouble."

The incident has led to calls to limit the availability of firearms to inhibit the rate of gun crimes in the city.

Gill Marshall-Andrews, the chairman of the Gun Control Network, told the Telegraph: "In some ways this was a tragedy waiting to happen because the licensing system for shotguns is inappropriately slack."


© Adfero Ltd