A large-scale police operation is in progress after a man was shot multiple times on Doncaster Road in Wakefield late Tuesday night, prompting a significant emergency response and a citywide hunt for the suspect.
According to West Yorkshire Police, officers were dispatched immediately after reports of gunfire were received just before 10 p.m. Paramedics and specialist trauma teams also rushed to the scene, where the victim was found with multiple gunshot wounds. Emergency medical crews provided life-saving treatment on the roadside before the man was airlifted by helicopter to a major trauma centre for urgent care. Authorities have not yet disclosed his identity or given an update on his current condition.
Witnesses in the area described scenes of chaos as police cordoned off Doncaster Road near Howarth Timber, forcing traffic to be diverted along nearby residential streets. Motorists reported delays and congestion as officers directed vehicles away from the incident site. The closure extended into the early hours, with police tape sealing off the scene for forensic examination.
Residents in surrounding neighbourhoods reported hearing a police helicopter hovering overhead for extended periods, with its searchlight sweeping across the rooftops and streets of Ossett. The aerial search formed part of an intensive manhunt for the suspect, with armed response units deployed and patrol cars stationed at key intersections.
Locals described a heavy and tense atmosphere. “You could tell something serious had happened,” one resident said. “There were police everywhere — in cars, on foot — and they weren’t letting anyone through. It was unsettling to see so much activity right outside our homes.”
Forensic investigators were later seen photographing the area, marking evidence points, and conducting detailed searches along the pavement and surrounding grass verges. Plainclothes detectives also moved door-to-door, speaking to residents and urging anyone who may have witnessed the shooting or seen suspicious activity to come forward.
At this time, police have not confirmed any arrests. The motive for the attack remains unclear, and officers have not ruled out the possibility that the shooting was targeted. West Yorkshire Police are appealing to the public for assistance, stressing that any dashcam footage, CCTV recordings, or eyewitness accounts from the area on Tuesday night could prove crucial to the investigation.
Anyone with information is urged to contact West Yorkshire Police immediately on 101, quoting the relevant incident number, or to use the force’s online reporting tool. Anonymous tips can also be submitted through Crimestoppers.