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Gardaí seize high-powered rifle as they investigate if young man (20) shot dead in Dublin attack was set up by his own associates

Three males – two in their 20s and one a teenager – arrested nearbyNeighbours tell of being woken by cars crashing and sound of gunfire in residential area near school and church in DrimnaghJustice Minister Helen McEntee says attack ‘completely unacceptable’

Man shot dead in Dublin as gardaí hold three for questioning

Today at 20:40

Gardaí have seized a high-powered AR-15 semi-automatic rifle which they believe was used in an ambush murder in Dublin last night.

Gardaí are investigating if the victim – named as 20-year-old Josh Itseli – was set up by his own associates when the car he was travelling in was rammed and he was shot dead shortly after midnight.

Detectives are also investigating if a violent young criminal, who is aged in his early 20s and suspected of previous gun attacks, was directly involved.

The suspect in custody is also under investigation for a violent assault on a young woman in the city recently with gardaí having grown “increasingly concerned” about his escalating involvement in criminality.

The Army bomb squad were called in to deal with a suspect device after the attack in which Mr Itseli was killed in a hail of bullets last night, it has emerged.

Locals have told of being woken by the sound of gunfire and cars being rammed as the victim, aged 20, was targeted from a moving vehicle.

The victim of the murder has been named by people close to his family as 20-year-old Josh Itseli.

They said his family had been contacted by gardaí about the attack.

They said Mr Itseli was born and grew up in Dublin and spent most of life in Dublin 15 but that he had been living elsewhere with his mother recently.

One woman said the scenes were “like something from the Wild West” and that more than 20 shots were fired.

It is believed attackers in a moving car targeted a man in another car on Knocknarea Road in Drimnagh shortly after midnight.

Locals said the attackers may have tried to escape by reversing their vehicle up the road, but crashed into a tree and other vehicles before they ran off.

Three males, two in their 20s and another in his teens, were arrested near the scene, in a residential area near a school and church, while three wrecked cars are the focus of garda inquiries.

The dead man’s body remained at the scene this afternoon while a post-mortem examination was being arranged and garda forensic experts examined the area.

Speaking at Sundrive garda station on Monday afternoon, Supt Paul Maher said gardaí got a number of calls about shots being fired at Knocknarea Road in Drimnagh area at around 12.15am.

“Gardaí responding to the scene discovered two vehicles, a Mercedes and a VW Golf, which appeared to have been in a collision. A male in his early 20s was discovered with gunshot wounds,” he said.

“Responding gardaí offered first aid, and despite attempts by gardaí and Dublin Fire Brigade paramedics, the male was pronounced deceased at the scene, and our thoughts are with the deceased’s family at this time.”

“Gardaí became aware of a potential explosive device at Knocknarea Court. The Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal team was requested to attend the scene and the device was made safe and removed.”

“Shortly after the reports of the shooting the garda regional Armed Support Unit encountered three men on Slievebloom Road. Two are in their early 20s and one is a teenage youth. The three men were arrested.”

Supt Maher said a number of other vehicles were damaged on Knocknarea Road and remain part of the scene and the garda technical examination.

“Another vehicle of interest has been identified on Sperrin Road, and is also the subject of technical examination at the moment, and this is a silver Ford Focus. An incident room has been established at Sundrive Road garda station.”