FORMER Belfast Continuity IRA leader Tommy Crossan was shot dead yesterday in a garage complex in west Belfast.
Crossan (43) was shot in the yard of the diesel garage he owned at the Peter Pan complex on lower Springfield Road at about 4.45pm.
It is understood three men jumped out of a car and shot him several times.
A car, believed to be linked to the shooting, was later found partly burnt-out at Beechmount Grove.
Police last night launched a murder investigation.
The killing happened shortly after church-goers were leaving Good Friday Mass.
The parish priest of St Paul's Church on the Falls Road later gave Crossan the Last Rites.
The shooting took place opposite a busy garage and supermarket, where dozens of shoppers were buying food for the Easter weekend.
A children's play park is also just metres away from the murder scene.
Within minutes of his shooting hundreds of onlookers, many of them children, watched as police taped off the road.
Crossan's family, including his daughter, quickly arrived on the scene.
A sobbing woman gave a statement to police as news quickly spread that the dissident republican was dead.
An ambulance was just visible behind the cordon.
Onlookers spoke of their shock that the man was killed so openly, just off a busy road.
One man, who did not wish to be named, said he was stunned.
"I can't believe he was shot in there in broad daylight," he said.
"He owned that business." However, most people were reluctant to speak about the dissident republican who had recently received several death threats.
The car at Beechmount Grove was set light outside the home of an elderly woman. However, firefighters put out the blaze before the car was completely destroyed.
A police helicopter flew low overhead as officers cordoned off the scene.
It is understood the car may have been driven from the back of the Peter Pan Centre into Beechmount Grove before the men escaped down a nearby alleyway.
Gates have recently been built at either end of the alleyway and are closed after sunset to discourage anti-social behaviour.
Just a few minutes after the killing, a group of Protestants and Catholics walked down the upper section of Springfield Road, holding up crosses, as part of a cross-community Good Friday celebration.
The group handed out small paper crosses, unaware that they were walking just a few streets away from a murder scene.
Speaking from the scene SDLP councillor Colin Keenan condemned the murder.
"There is a real sense of shock that this has happened," he said.
"I was on the scene shortly after this tragic event and I extend my heartfelt sympathy to the victim's family.
"We have long hoped that the shadow of death had been lifted from west Belfast."
Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said his thoughts were with Crossan's family.
"My sympathy is with the family of the man killed in Belfast today. Nothing that is claimed by the criminals responsible can justify it," he tweeted last night.
Justice minister David Ford also condemned the murder and asked anyone with information to contact police.
* 'SHADOW OF DEATH': Police at the Peter Pan complex in west Belfast yesterday after the murder of Tommy Crossan, left inset. Right inset, the burnt-out car at Beechmount Grove SCENE PICTURES: Hugh Russell