‘There’s been bother before, so I’m not exactly surprised about it’
“It’s usually a nice, peaceful street…” one neighbour says in a faceless voice through a Ring doorbell. “There used to be a lot of commotion, but not so much anymore.
The words come as, just down the street, the window of a modern home is peppered with bullet holes. Around eight.
Through the pouring rain, the pane of glass next to it can be seen completely smashed, the window frame now nearly empty, after a gunman opened fire on the house. The shooting happened on School House Road yesterday (Sunday, February 15).
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A Greater Manchester Police spokesperson said officers were initially called to reports of criminal damage at a property at around 1pm. But neighbours say they heard a series of gunshots in the early hours of the morning, around 5am.
Thankfully, no injuries have been reported, but investigations are now underway. The home was a hive of police activity last night, and again this morning.
The street was taped off, along with Roundthorn Road, which the houses back on to. Crime scene investigators in white suits inspected the doorway, before going inside the house and not emerging out for hours.
They were spotted taking pictures of the blasted windows, and a host of police cars and vans patrolled the police tape roping off the area.
Neighbours told the Manchester Evening News that there used to be trouble on the small street, but things had more recently calmed down until now. One man said: “There’s only around 15 or 16 properties, it’s a small close.
“But there’s been bother before, so I’m not exactly surprised about it. It had calmed down, and has been quite safe.
“Hopefully, with police here, I don’t need to worry about things getting bad again.”
Police are urging anyone with information on the incident to come forward. In a statement, a GMP spokesperson said: “At around 1pm yesterday (Sunday 15 February 2026), we were called to reports of criminal damage at an address on School House Road in Oldham.
“Officers attended the scene and confirmed that there had been a firearms discharge.
“A scene remains in place whilst we continue our enquiries and thankfully, no injuries have been reported. Investigations are ongoing.
“We are appealing for witnesses or any information about this incident – anyone with CCTV or dashcam footage that could assist our investigation should contact us on 101 quoting log 1397 of 15/02/2026.
“You can also report information via LiveChat on our website or through the independent charity Crimestoppers – anonymously – on 0800 555 111.”