A man and woman are being questioned by police tonight after a man was murdered in a dramatic shooting in Southampton today.

Armed police and a dog unit closed off part of the city after the victim was shot in a flat in St Mary’s.

Residents were told to stay indoors while police hunted the gunman.

The victim died in Southampton General Hospital despite officers’ attempts to save him after he was found at the scene in St Mary Street.

Some residents said he had been shot in the head, although that has not confirmed by police.

In another twist tonight police said that they were also hunt two more suspects in connecting with the shooting which happened at about 11am.

A 36-year-old woman and a 41-year-old man have been arrested in connection with the shooting near the scene and are this evening being questioned.

Police said all those involved in the incident were known to each other.

A statement said: "It is believed the individuals involved were all known to each other and this is being treated an isolated incident."

Hampshire Police confirmed they had launched a murder investigation and said the two other suspects did not pose any further threat to the public.

Click here to read how the gun drama unfolded with pictures and video

The development comes after officers were called to reports of gun fire at 11am this morning and found a man at a flat in St Mary Street with gunshot wounds.

A police presence was still at the scene of the shooting this evening and a cordon remains in place along the road either side of the block of flats and is likely to remain there for some time.

No-one has been allowed to enter or leave the scene during the day and police would not say whether they had found a weapon.

Earlier, residents told how the streets had been swarming with armed police and police dogs.

They entered the property and a man was brought out on a stretcher, being given CPR by a police officer, witnesses said.

Many residents said they had heard the man had been shot in the head, including one who said he had heard it on a police radio.

Market worker Carl Lowes, 20, from the Holyrood Estate, said police turned up and cordoned off the whole area.
He: "I asked police what happened and he said someone has been shot in the head.

“They brought out a guy and left in an ambulance.
“One of the policemen was doing CPR.

“They’re everywhere at the moment, armed police, dogs and everything.”

A 25-year-old resident, who lives in a flat opposite the scene of the shooting, said: "I've heard somebody has been shot in the head.

"I saw the ambulance pull up outside and there were ten difference police vehicles with armed officers and dogs."

One 26-year-old man, who lives on St Mary Street, said: "I noticed police out there with machine guns.

"I came down and spoke to a police officer and he said somebody has been shot in the head in the flat opposite and that no one was allowed in or out of the road for their own safety."

"I didn't hear any shots but saw police inside the flat doing forensics."

Aaron Kempson, 21, said there are lots of armed police officers at the scene between the Best One and Premier Store in St Mary Street.

Witness Mr Kempson said: "It's quite weird, you do not expect this sort of thing on your own door step.

"It's like something off the news and not something you expect to happen round here."

Anyone with information should contact the Hampshire Major Investigation Team on 101, quoting Operation Emetic.