The bereaved mother of a young man killed by e-bike riders three years ago expressed that she felt a part of her died that same day as she appeals for help in finding those responsible. 

Sam Rimmer was out with friends on Lavrock Bank, Dingle, Liverpool, on August 16, 2022, when the assailants rode past and opened fire on him and his group.

The 22-year-old was sadly shot in the back and succumbed to his injuries shortly after arriving at the hospital. Although ten people have been arrested since his death, no charges have been filed. 

His mother, Joanne, has now made a heartfelt plea for any witnesses or individuals with information to come forward on the third anniversary of his passing.

She described the years following his murder as ‘painful’ and ‘traumatic’, adding: ‘The passing of time has not eased the pain.’ 

“People say to cherish the memories, but when I think of Sam, the memory that haunts me is seeing his body in the morgue, looking at his chest and wishing for him to breathe,” she expressed.

‘No parent should ever have to identify their child’s body.’

“Unless you’ve gone through the murder of your child, it’s impossible to comprehend the tormenting and relentless mental and emotional anguish we face daily. The longing in my heart to see my son once more is overwhelming.”

 She has urged those who know any information regarding the murder of her son to ‘please speak up’.

‘No one will ever know as it will be completely anonymous. 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. I

‘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.’

Senior Investigating Officer, 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.

‘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.

‘As part of our investigation we have made a number of arrests and received a lot of information from the public. We just need the final piece of the puzzle.

‘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.

‘Do you know who was riding on the bikes that arrived in Lavrock Bank that night? Do you know where they went afterwards or where they are being stored?

‘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.’

Anyone who witnessed the incident or has any information has been urged to contact the Merseyside police via their public portal.

You can also contact the force via @MerPolCC on Twitter, or alternatively get in touch with anonymously with Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, quoting reference number 22000603397.