28 May 2012 Last updated at 05:24 ET

Mark Short: Droylsden pub shooting victim 'taken by cowards'

Mark Short, pictured with his son, Mark Junior, and nephew, Karson, had "a big heart"

The family of a man shot dead in a crowded pub in Greater Manchester have said he was "taken away from us by cowards".

Mark Short, 23, died when a masked gunman opened fire in the Cotton Tree Inn in Droylsden on Friday.

A 34-year-old man arrested on suspicion of murder with a woman and two men have been released on police bail.

A post-mortem examination found Mr Short was shot in the neck.

Three other men, aged in their 20s, were injured and remain in hospital.

The man arrested on suspicion of murder along with two men aged 18 and 21, who were questioned on suspicion of assisting an offender, were bailed to report to police on 30 July.

A 52-year-old woman arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder and possessing a class A drug was released on bail until 6 August.

'Big heart'

Mr Short' s family said in a statement he was "a loving son, brother, father and boyfriend to Naomi".

They added: "People who knew Mark, knew him as a young man with a big heart. He would not think twice about helping his family and friends when they were in need.

A masked gunman opened fire in the Cotton Tree Inn in Droylsden on Friday

"He is not the young man the papers are portraying him as.

"He was no angel and it is not a secret he had been in trouble with the police, but that was all in the past.

"Mark was only 23 years old and looking forward to a future with his son, Mark Junior. This has now all been taken away from him."

The family added: "He will be deeply missed by all of his family and friends. His memory will be love in our hearts forever."

Two men, aged 25 and 26, suffered bullet wounds to their leg and a third man, aged 29, suffered a bullet wound to his lower back in the shooting.

Earlier reports that Mr Short and those injured were attending a 60th birthday party have now been discounted by police.

Police said the gunman, who was wearing a balaclava, escaped in a Ford Focus which is believed to have had two people inside.

It was later found abandoned and alight in Ellison Close, Hatters.

Det Ch Insp Denise Worth, of Greater Manchester Police, said: "Mark was a young man who was tragically shot dead while in a pub with family and friends and our thoughts are with his loved ones who have, understandably, been left devastated.

"We remain in the very early stages of our investigation and I continue to appeal to anyone with information about the gunman, his accomplices or conspirators to contact us in absolute confidence."