Shropshire Star

Family pays tribute as Wolverhampton shooting victim named

Dwaine Haughton was shot on Friday night in what detectives believe was a targeted attack.

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Dwaine Haughton

The family of a man shot dead in Wolverhampton has said his death had left a “hole in all of our hearts” as he was named by police.

Dwaine Haughton, 24, was shot in Valley Road, Wolverhampton, at 9.10pm on Friday in what detectives believe was a targeted attack.

The victim was driven to New Cross Hospital, just a few hundred yards from the scene, but died in the early hours of Saturday morning after being transferred to Birmingham’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

A post-mortem examination confirmed he died of a gunshot wound.

Wolverhampton shooting
Police at the scene in Wolverhampton (Richard Vernalls/PA)

In a tribute released by West Midlands police, Mr Haughton’s family said: “You have left a big hole in all of our hearts.

“We will forever miss your beautiful cheeky smile and infectious laugh. Love and miss you son, grandson, brother, uncle, nephew and cousin.

“You were the most caring, loving and thoughtful boyfriend and would have been the most perfect husband and father.

“We love you more than words can show, I think about you more than you could ever know.

“Until forever this will be true, because there is no one I would ever love the way I love you.

“If tears could build a staircase and memories a lane I’d ride up to heaven and bring you home again.”

Floral tributes
Floral tributes left at the scene in Wolverhampton (Richard Vernalls/PA)

Murder detectives are investigating the circumstances around the shooting and trying to trace the person responsible.

Detective Chief Inspector Chris Mallett said: “We have a team of officers working on the case to find the person responsible and several lines of enquiry are being pursued.

“A young man has lost his life and I would urge witnesses, anyone with information, or anyone who was in or near Valley Road on Friday night and saw anything suspicious to contact us. Their information could be crucial.

“People can provide the information anonymously: they don’t need to leave their names, we just want the information to get justice for this killing.”

Police said more uniformed officers have been patrolling the area near the scene to reassure the public.

At the weekend, stunned residents told of their shock at the killing on their doorstep, saying that the victim had grown up in the area.

One woman, who lives just yards from the scene but declined to be named, said: “I heard three shots – bang, bang, bang.

“I said, ‘That isn’t a car back-firing’.

“We just locked the doors, then a load of police turned up.”

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