A MAN died in hospital after he was gunned down in an attack which police have described as “horrific”.

The 31-year-old was shot at around 11.30pm in Church Road, Hove, in front of revellers making their way home from a Saturday night out.

It is understood that two other men from Albania were also shot at but not injured during the incident, which police were last night treating as a murder and two attempted murders.

Paramedics tried to resuscitate the victim in the street but he died later in hospital.

When The Argus went to print last night no arrests has been made but officers said they believed the shooting was “not random” and that the shooter had fled the area.

Several shocked eyewitnesses to the attack told The Argus howa car pulled up on the corner of Selbourne Road and a man was bundled out into the road.

They also told how a loud argument then took place between two groups of men, with one apparently brandishing a baseball bat, before three shots rang out.

One man “slumped to the floor”before the gunman and an accomplice left the scene, the witnesses claim.

Paramedics and police were on the scene within minutes but the victim, who lived in Kent, died in the Royal Sussex County Hospital at just after 1am.

The incident took place yards away from a bus stop packed with half a dozen passengers.

One eyewitness, who did not want to be named, said: “I saw a man being pushed out of a car, and then we heard a noise that we thought was a car tyre bursting.

“After they shot him they checked him and drove off. Then the chap was on the ground and was quickly surrounded by a lot of people.”

Church Road remained closed throughout yesterday while forensic officers examined the scene. Police went from door to door gathering statements fromshocked residents,many of whom had heard the loud gunshots.

Last night police said the inquiry was “progressing well”, but refused to reveal further details.

Superintendent Simon Nelson described the shooting as a “horrific event”, but said he was confident there was a “low risk to the community”.

He said nothing so far indicated the incident was gang-related and said it was a dispute between two small groups of men.

Detective Chief Inspector Ian Pollard, from the Surrey and Sussex Major Crime Team, is leading the investigation.

He said: “I recognise that the murder will be of considerable concern to the people of Brighton and Hove but I can assure them that this is an isolated incident. I have committed a number of resources to this investigation in an effort to find those responsible and bring them to justice.

“I would ask anyone who has yet to come forward with information to contact police on 101 quoting the new operational name Operation Welbeck or the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”