Brit, 32, shot dead on Costa del Sol 'was executed to "settle scores" in gangland hit'

Daily Mail​

22-04-2025

A 32-year-old man shot dead in the Costa del Sol may have been 'executed' in a bid to 'settle scores', as police investigate the possibility the murder is linked to an organised crime gang.
The victim - who is believed to be British and from Liverpool - was killed on Monday at around 8.15pm in the popular British holiday resort of Calahonda between Marbella and Fuengirola.
Police are hunting for the killer, who is believed to have fled the crime scene in a dark-coloured Seat Cupra with foreign number plates that was found burned out shortly after the murder.
According to local news outlet La Opinion de Malaga, the Guardia Civil police force retrieved a weapon from the burning vehicle, which was located just metres away from a shopping centre close to the murder scene.
Investigators are now analysing the weapon to determine if it was used in the killing.
Pedro Fernández, the Government delegate in Andalusia, said the culprit had covered his face and police are trying to identify him.
He said: 'We are gathering the corresponding testimonies from people who may have seen something, and of course we are also working on inspecting the surrounding cameras to see if they can provide any identification regarding the person who fired these shots.'
Investigators have also not ruled out the possibility that the man was murdered in a 'gangland hit' and that the culprit was helped by others.
The murder happened in a street called Don Jose de Orbaneja Street, where there is a well-known tennis and padel club called Club del Sol, as well as a neighbouring holiday resort called Finca Naundrup which has sports facilities.
According to local media, the gunman waited for the victim to finish playing football before launching the deadly assault, The Mirror reported.
The victim was already dead by the time police and paramedics reached the scene.
Locals told cops they had heard between eight and 10 shots being fired. The incident has been described as a gunfight.
Police put the area on lockdown after the shooting.
A Brit expat wrote on social media shortly after it happened, assuming it occurred at Club del Sol, although police have not said yet exactly where in the street it happened: 'Anyone know what happened at Club del Sol?
'Heard gunshot-like sounds then lots of police'.
Another Brit answered: 'Apparently a guy was shot seven times. Police lockdown.'
A third Facebook user writing on a local expat site said: 'It happened on the slip road down towards Finca Naundrup outside Club del Sol.
'My son was at the football pitch from 8pm when I dropped him off and is finally home now.'
He added of the lockdown late on Monday evening: 'No-one is allowed to leave there yet. Police still there.'
A Scottish expat added: 'I was playing padel at Finca Naundrup earlier. Glad I missed it.'
Last week a 34-year-old man was rushed to the Costa del Sol Hospital in Marbella after being shot outside a nightclub in the famous Costa del Sol resort.
The incident happened around 4.30am on Good Friday.
Witnesses said the suspect fled the scene in a getaway vehicle.
The victim was hospitalized after suffering a gunshot wound to the shoulder.
No arrests are yet believed to have taken place.