Police call for information in murder investigation

Major Crime detectives are calling on the public for information about the murder of Simon Middleton on Monday 8 March 2021.

The 49 year old man was shot at in the early hours of the morning in front of a residence on Brady Street, Virginia.

Major Crime Detective Inspector Brett Featherby said police have since searched eight premises and seized seven vehicles as part of their investigation.

"We believe Simon is the victim of a targeted execution style murder," Detective Inspector Featherby said.

Simon Middleton

"We have seized a large amount of CCTV in the vicinity of the crime and have identified a 1998 Nissan Patrol South Australian registration WDA-262 in in Phineas Street Virginia. The car has a broken rear left tail light."

"That vehicle drops a man off who is seen to walk east through the church towards Leach Street, before CCTV captures the moment Simon was shot at 1.52am."

Police believe a number of people were involved in the planning of Simon's murder, including a suspect who engaged Simon in conversation before he was shot.

"We can see from the CCTV two men run south on Leach Street following the shooting and then one runs back north and then northeast onto the extension of Brady Street."

Police are appealing to members of the public to come forward if they noticed anybody acting suspiciously in the vicinity of Brady and Leach Street Virginia on the evening of Sunday 7 March or the morning of Monday 8 March.

Map of Virginia area

"Anyone with dashcam footage of the same area of Virginia between 11pm on the Sunday to 3am on the Monday would also be helpful in our investigation."

Members of the public who call Crime Stoppers tonight between 5pm and 9am can speak directly to detectives conducting this investigation. All calls made to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 can remain anonymous.

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