Police have described the murder of a man in west Belfast last night as a “brutal killing.”

57-year-old Kieran Wylie was shot a number of times at close range at a house in the Lenadoon Avenue area of the city at around 10pm.

He was pronounced dead at the scene after police arrived.

PSNI Detective Chief Inspector Darren McCartney said: “I can confirm the victim of last night’s shooting was Kieran Wylie, aged 57 and my thoughts are very much with his family, including his children.

“My investigation into his murder is at a very early stage and I am continuing to make enquiries into events leading up to the shooting.

“This was a brutal killing and I believe Kieran was shot a number of times at close range.”

He said it is too early to be sure what the motive for the murder was and investigators are keeping an open mind.

Police are appealing for any information on the killing.

“Local residents tried to help Kieran last night and this community will be rightly shocked at what has taken place in this residential area,” said Detective Chief Inspector McCartney.

“I would appeal to anyone who was in the area of Lenadoon Avenue last night, between 9pm and 11pm to contact detectives at Ladas Drive.

“We are particularly keen to recover CCTV, mobile phone and dash cam footage from the Lenadoon area last night and we want to speak to anyone who has any information about the incident or the events leading up to it.”

He said the killers showed a “complete disregard for the community” and the workers on the frontline during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Those involved in this appalling murder offer nothing to the local community and need to be brought to justice,” he said.

“Nothing justifies killing another person and the recovery of the gun that was used in last night’s murder is a key line of enquiry for me.”

Anyone with information should contact the PSNI.