As detectives continue to probe a theory that Adam was not the masked gang's target, the Chadwicks refuted the dismissive public reaction that their son had merely been 'in the wrong place at the wrong time'.

"People are saying Adam was in the wrong place at the wrong time, this is incorrect. Adam was where he liked to be with his friend and sister Gemma," said their joint statement.

"Adam and Gemma have always got on and when she bought her house he practically lived there," said Adam's parents.

They were speaking two weeks to the day since Adam was shot in the head at his sister's terrace house in Clifton Mount, Harehills, Leeds, at 10.40pm on Tuesday June 24 when three masked men accompanied by a mystery woman burst in.

Despite desperate medical efforts Adam died 26 hours later.

The Chadwicks stressed: "What happened on that night should not have happened because the people who killed Adam had no reason to be there. They should not have had a gun."

The middle-aged couple, who live in Seacroft, Leeds, continued: "Adam was well liked by everyone.

"We have not heard a bad word said about him by anybody. He did nothing wrong. He was an honest, hard working young man.

"He was a good son, a good brother, a good friend to hundreds of people but most of all he was a brilliant father."

Adam, a carpet fitter and dad to Ruby, 3, was a talented footballer and popular former pupil of Wortley High School.