A FORMER Manchester United starlet was the intended target of gunmen who shot dead innocent Halton McCollin in a takeaway, the MEN can reveal.

Halton, 20, was shot in the head in a 'cold-blooded execution' at the China Garden in Stretford two years ago today. His killer has never been found.

Halton's killing fresh in dad's mind

Detectives have always believed that Halton was the victim of mistaken identity who happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

It is now understood that the intended target was Aaron Rouse (select the picture gallery to see a picture) , who was a talented player with United before he fell into a life of gang-related crime.

Rouse, 25, is in prison after he was sentenced to eight years at Manchester Crown Court in June last year for two counts of possession of a firearm and possession of ammunition.

Rouse had ties with the Haydock Close Crew, affiliated to Manchester's notorious Doddington gang.

It is thought that gunmen wrongly believed Rouse would be at the China Garden takeaway on the night of the shooting and then mistook Halton for their target.

Today, in a bid to catch Halton's killer, the reward for information leading to his conviction has been increased from £20,000 to £50,000.

It can also be revealed that the silver revolver used in the shooting has been linked to another murder and an attempted murder.

The same gun was used:

At the scene of the murder of Tyrone Gilbert on Frobisher Close, Chorlton-on-Medlock on July 27th 2007.

To shoot Gavin Smith six times in his attempted murder outside the Wagon and Horses pub on Rake Street, Bury, on September 24th 2007.

At the scene of a shooting in Belton Walk, Cheetham Hill, where shots were fired into two houses and a vehicle.

Last week the National Ballistics Intelligence Service revealed that gangsters were increasingly being forced to share or rent out guns because of a lack of available firearms.

The same weapons have been traced to a string of crimes in areas affected by gang-related violence.

Halton, of Seymore Grove, Old Trafford, who played for Flixton FC, and worked in a call centre for Norwich Union insurance, was hit by a single bullet.

He was with friends buying a meal after finishing work late when he was shot.

CCTV footage captured three men walking down the alley at the side of the Gorse Hill pub after parking a stolen blue Vauxhall Vectra at the back.

One of the men fired three shots inside the takeaway, striking Halton in the head with one of the shots.

Halton died in hospital three days later - on the same day that he and his older sister were supposed to be boarding a plane to see their grandparents in Barbados.

Innocent

Detective Insp Kevin Greevy, of GMP's Major Incident Team, said: “Halton was a totally innocent young man who was shot from behind in what was a cold blooded execution.

“Two years have now gone by and allegiances in that time will undoubtedly have changed. I would therefore urge those who know the identity of the gunman to think long and hard not only about the large reward, but the devastating affect Halton's murder has had on his family.

“I know the prospect of talking to police and giving evidence is frightening, but we will do all we can to protect your identity.

“A killer remains at large and if he has killed before then he clearly has the potential to kill again.”

Anyone with information can contact police on 0161 856 3691 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

The weapon used to kill Halton was found when officers searched a house on Parrs Wood Road, Manchester, in May 2008.

Ballistic experts established bullets found at the China Garden in Chester Road had been fired from it.

As a result, Asim Bashir, 21, was jailed for six years in September 2008 for possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life in connection with the seizure.