Gardaí raid several houses as part of investigation into the murder of Joshua Itseli and three detainees are released without charge

The 20-year-old is believed to have been shot and killed by one of his associates, who opened fire with a high-powered AR-15 rifle when his car was hit shortly after midnight.

Three men, two in their 20s and a minor, arrested in connection with the murder were released without charge this morning.

The stolen Volkwagen Golf, which was fitted with false number plates, was involved in a collision with a Mercedes at the junction of Knocknarea Road and Curlew Road in Drimnagh, while a Ford Focus was also involved.

One line of inquiry is whether the victim and his associates were on their way to carry out a pipe bomb attack before being intercepted by rival criminals. A viable device was recovered at Knocknarea Court shortly after the shooting.

As part of the investigation, detectives recovered good quality CCTV footage showing parts of the incident, while clothing and mobile phones were also seized.

Gardaí have searched at least three properties in a bid to recover further evidence relating to the fatal shooting.

One of the houses searched is linked to a teenager who gardaí believe may have been the target of the planned homemade bomb attack.

Garda press conference following Drimnagh shooting

Sources said the teenager’s home was effectively “cleared” before gardaí could execute a court order.

As part of the investigation, a van linked to the teenager, which was sighted near the scene of the murder, has also been recovered.

Detectives are still trying to establish a motive for the possible pipe bomb attack and subsequent shooting.

Preliminary examinations of the scene indicate that only one gun was fired, about 20 times.

The next day an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle was found on top of a bush and is believed to be the murder weapon.

Shortly after the shooting, three young men, known to Mr Itseli, were arrested nearby by armed gardaí.

One of the suspects, in his 20s, is believed to have fired the gun, resulting in the victim being shot in the head.

Gardaí are investigating whether Itseli was shot dead accidentally or whether it was a set-up by his own gang.

Mr Itseli was recently the victim of a stabbing in Dublin city centre, during which he avoided serious injury.

Gardaí are investigating whether this assault was a catalyst for the chaotic scenes shortly after midnight on Monday, or whether it was linked to wider issues relating to drug dealing.

The suspect is also under investigation for previous shootings and an attack on a woman, but is out on bail despite gardaí raising concerns he may be involved in a more serious offence.

Armed support units have been patrolling Dublin’s 8th and 12th this week over fears of reprisal attacks linked to the murder.

Dublin Mayor Daithí de Róiste described it as “a worrying development to see such powerful weapons on the streets” of Dublin.

“I appeal to anyone who has any information to report it to the gardaí,” he said.

Mr Itseli was known to gardaí and was before court on drug trafficking charges.

He had previously resided in Ratoath, Co Meath and the Kylemore area, as well as in a hotel in south Dublin.

He was arrested with crack cocaine worth more than €30,000 last summer and was due to stand trial before the Circuit Court.

Yesterday the state pathologist’s office was to perform an autopsy.

Descriptions of the panic and chaos surrounding the Drimnagh murder have begun to emerge.

One of the cars that fled the scene left a trail of destruction as it sped back down Knocknarea Road after the shooting.

Video footage circulating on social media shows hooded men running down a dead end and having to backtrack.

One of the men appears to be carrying a gun.

Gardaí are now appealing for information in relation to an electric motorcycle believed to be linked to the murder.

Gardaí are appealing to anyone who may have observed the black Talaria Sting electric motorcycle in the vicinity of Dolphin Road in recent days. The motorcycle has been seized by investigating gardaí, who are also searching for the rightful owner of the vehicle.

One line of inquiry being examined by gardaí is that a gray Golf was followed by a silver Ford Focus along Knocknarea Road and the Golf crashed into a black Mercedes car at the Curlew Road junction.

The shooting occurred at the scene of the accident.

Gardaí are examining whether the silver Ford reversed at high speed away from the scene along Knocknarea Road, crashing into other vehicles and a tree as it moved.

It is believed the vehicle turned onto Sperrin Road in an attempt to escape the scene.

The badly damaged Ford was abandoned at the time, probably because it was not drivable, and a van is believed to have picked up the men from the scene.