Police investigating the murder of an innocent dad-of-two who was gunned down in a tragic case of mistaken identity have arrested a man after he arrived in the UK from Thailand.
Marlon O’Reilly, 33, was gunned down in an execution-style killing as he celebrated his birthday in a pub.
Detectives launched a hunt for the suspect, who fled the scene on a high-powered motorbike, after the brutal slaying on May 10.
At 7.30pm on Wednesday they arrested a 33-year-old-man as he got off a plane at Birmingham Airport.
He was taken into custody and was still being questioned today over the murder at the Dovecote Pub in Sheldon, Birmingham.
Lead investigator DI Warren Hines, of West Midlands Police, said: “We have carried out a thorough investigation following the tragic events which saw Marlon lose his life.
“Officers have been working around the clock to compile evidence and have carried out forensic searches and trawled through CCTV footage and this is still a very fast moving inquiry.
“The community have also proved critical to our progress and a large amount of information has been received from witnesses and other local people.”
Police previously said they believed Mr O’Reilly was wearing a T-shirt similar to the intended target, who was in the pub at the time.
They are also investigating whether the shooting was linked to a punch-up earlier in the day outside nearby GA Gym.
A West Midlands Police spokesman said: “A line of enquiry remains that Marlon was a victim of mistaken identity.
“Inquiries are ongoing as to whether the intended victim of the shooting was also in the pub at the same time.
“Police have put safeguarding measures into place around a number of people.
“Police were called to an affray at the gym.
“One man was treated for slash wounds and three men and one woman have been arrested and bailed in connection with both incidents.”
