Raymond Craven, 27, was shot in the stomach while drinking at the Thatched House pub, in Wavertree High Street, on Tuesday night.

He died later in hospital from his injuries. Two other men were also hurt.

Officers believe one man had stayed in a silver Subaru vehicle outside while two others went into the pub.

He was a peacekeeper, not a fighter

Raymond and Ann Craven

The gunman then shot at a group of people who were sitting down.

Mr Craven's parents, Ann and Raymond, have paid tribute to their son.

In a statement released through police, they said: "Raymond was full of life and lived every day to the full.

"He was a peacekeeper, not a fighter and would walk away from trouble rather than cause confrontation."

They added that Mr Craven, who worked for electronic firm Marconi, was in "the wrong place at the wrong time".

Emergency surgery

Detectives do not know whether Mr Craven, of Old Swan, Liverpool, was deliberately targeted by the gunman.

They are also investigating a number of incidents - none of them firearm related - involving certain members of the group who were targeted.

A 37-year-old man, who suffered serious abdomen injuries in the attack and underwent emergency surgery, is still in a serious condition in hospital.

The third victim, a 31-year-old man who was hit in the knee, was released from hospital after treatment.