Steven Gray was shot dead outside a sports complex in the popular British holiday resort of Calahonda in Spain on April 21 – his mother described the killers as ‘cowards’
Two firearms were discovered in a torched vehicle after a “true Blue” was gunned down outside a Costa del Sol football ground. Steven Gray, 32, was fatally shot on April 21, Easter Monday, outside a well-known sports facility in the popular British holiday destination of Calahonda in Spain.
Mr Gray, originally from Bootle, had been residing in Malaga for approximately a year when he was murdered near the Club del Sol and Finca Naundrup sports complex moments after completing a football match.
An inquest at Bootle Town Hall heard today, Tuesday: “A witness said at around 7.45pm they saw two people get out of a car and heard shots, reports the Liverpool Echo.
“Death was established between 8pm and 8.30pm. The car used by the shooters had been found burnt-out with two burnt firearms inside. Steven had been walking to his car [when he was shot]. He was found next to his car on the floor.”
Mr Gray’s mum Lynn told the ECHO: “Steven was walking to his car after playing a football match with his friends. As he got to his car, with his back to them, [the] cowards brutally shot him from behind.
“Steven didn’t see it coming and died instantly at the scene. This cruel, cowardly act has left Steven’s family and friends devastated. My son will rest easy knowing how loved he’ll always be.”
She added: “[Steven] went to Spain to get away from gang culture. He had no involvement in gang culture. Steven is from a family who care for him and always have and always will love him very much.”
The inquest heard Mr Gray was a devoted Everton supporter and gifted midfielder. His family revealed to the proceedings that he had been recruited by the Everton academy at just four years old and competed at an elite level until suffering a leg break.
Ms Gray said her son’s “secret idol” was Steven Gerrard and his playing style drew comparisons to the former Liverpool captain.
The mother told the inquest: “When the death is so violent people do judge and make assumptions. They judge the family as well.”
Senior Coroner Anita Bhardwaj reassured Mr Gray’s family: “We are not here to judge anybody.”
A post-mortem examination was conducted in Spain and Mr Gray’s cause of death was recorded as severe haemorrhaging resulting from gunshot wounds to his thorax and abdomen.
The inquest was informed that persistent attempts had been made by both the coroner’s office and Mr Gray’s relatives to obtain further details about his death from Spanish officials. Ms Bhardwaj stated: “What we have is extremely limited because they’re not providing us with any information.”
The coroner declared: “From all the information known to us there is no lawful reason to shoot Steven, so I find Steven died as a result of unlawful killing.”
Offering her sympathies to Mr Gray’s mother, Ms Bhardwaj concluded: “I know we are all conditioned to lose our parents, but we are not conditioned to lose a child before us.”
Residents of the Costa del Sol informed Spanish media that they heard “eight to 10 shots” during Mr Gray’s fatal shooting. Regional publication Sur reported that a Seat Cupra bearing foreign registration plates was discovered ablaze near the scene of the crime.
The same outlet stated that officials were hunting for “two hooded killers”.
The probe into Mr Gray’s death is being overseen by the Guardia Civil. The ECHO has contacted the police force repeatedly seeking information, but a spokesperson confirmed it does not disclose details to journalists during active investigations.
A Spanish source previously revealed to the ECHO: “There is a basic problem in the area that the Spanish aren’t that bothered about expat violence until they have to be. Perhaps more prescient [is] that the police authorities in the area are under-resourced.”
Mr Gray’s shooting was amongst at least eight gun-related incidents across the Costa del Sol within a two-month period. These encompassed the killings of Scottish criminals Eddie Lyons Jnr and Ross Monaghan in Fuengirola on May 31.
Michael Terrence Riley, 44, has been extradited from Liverpool to face trial charged with their murders.