People who live and work on Cowley Road have been rocked by the “shocking” and “crazy” news of an alleged shooting.

On Sunday evening, police cordoned off the popular road after reports were made of a man being shot in the shoulder.

Two men have now been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and currently remain in police custody.

READ MORE: Oxford: Cowley Road 'shooting' is 'shocking' says councillor

The victim of the shooting, who suffered a ‘small wound’ to his shoulder, has now been discharged from hospital.

People who live and work on Cowley Road have been left “shocked” by the incident.

However, a number of people also claim they still feel safe on the road, despite the unpredictable nature of the incident.  

This is what they said: 

Oxford Mail: Brenda FellmanBrenda Fellman Brenda Fellman, who works at The Gameskeeper and lives on Cowley Road, was asked to run to the shops last night at around 9pm for a friend but said if she had heard about the incident she “would not have gone”.

Overall though, she still sees Cowley Road as a safe place to live and work.

She explained: “Shootings are very rare down here. Cowley Road, no matter what people say, is normally pretty safe.

“It would have been nice to have more information [about the incident].”

She added that The Gameskeeper runs events for children through the summer and if she had known about the incident earlier she would have cancelled tonight’s event. Instead, she is asking parents to pick their children up from the event rather than walk home on their own.

“We are running kids events and that fear is one of our biggest concerns.

“Oxford is normally much more safe. It still feels safe on Cowley Road,” added.

Oxford Mail: Joseph YeadonJoseph Yeadon

Joseph Yeadon, who lives on East Avenue just off Cowley Road and works at Reign Vintage, he said: “I was long gone before it happened.

“It was quite shocking that it has happened. That sort of stuff is quite rare in Oxford in general.

“I was lucky I wasn’t here.”

Oxford Mail: Nay AungNay Aung

Nay Aung, who lived on Cowley Road for 14 years before moving to Headington and still owns Honest Stationery on the road, said: “Cowley Road is not safe anymore.”

The shop owner explained when he and his family moved to the area “it was nice, it was friendly” however the road is “not anymore”.

“It is really crazy,” he added.

Oxford Mail: Andres GantnerAndres Gantner

Andres Gantner, who works at Beeline Bicycles and also lives on Cowley Road, described the presence of a police cordon on the road as “crazy” and a “little bit disturbing”.

He explained: “It was shocking, the shooting and the whole area being closed yesterday, but at least no one has been seriously hurt.”

Mr Gantner explained that he still feels safe on the road, despite the seriousness of the incident.

He said: “I do feel safe, as well as in the whole Cowley area. Generally, it is quite a safe place.

“Compared to other areas it does feel safe because there are people from all over the world.

“It is quite nice but every now and then there are violent incidents.

“It does not happen every day and it is rare.”

Oxford Mail: Denise MosciattiDenise Mosciatti

Denise Mosciatti, who works at Halley Cafe, said the road “could be safer”.

She said people should take into “consideration that it is where the nightlife is” and it only takes a certain mix of people to clash for trouble to occur.

However, that being said she does not feel the road is anymore unsafe than before the incident.

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Read more from this author

This story was written by Sophie Perry. She joined the team in 2021 as a digital reporter.

You can get in touch with her by emailing: sophie.perry@newsquest.co.uk

Follow her on Twitter @itssophieperry

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