Police believe the murder of a father-of-two at his north Down home at the weekend was not sectarian.
Mr Mark Apsley, a Protestant, was shot dead by a lone killer at the front door of his home in Dickson Park in the town of Ballygowan, south of Belfast. He had moved to his new home a month ago and lived there with his two young children and their mother.
His eldest child answered a knock at the door on Saturday evening and was sent to get his father.
Mr Apsley then went to the door where he was shot five or six times and died instantly. The child did not witness the killing.
The PSNI said there was "no obvious motive" for the murder, but detectives are understood to be investigating allegations of links to a dispute between the dead man and a Ulster Defence Association figure in east Belfast which has seen much of the recent feuding between rival UDA and Loyalist Volunteer Force figures.
Chief Insp David Green, who is leading the investigation, condemned the killing, but expressed relief that the boy did not witness his father's death.
But he added: "Children this time of year should be looking forward to Santa, presents and Christmas, not to have such an appalling murder on their minds. I think it is a terrible thing to happen to any child."
An Ulster Unionist Assembly member for the area condemned the murder. Lord Kilclooney, said: "There can be no excuse for murder".
He called on those with information to give it to police.
His UUP Assembly colleague Mr Tom Hamilton said: "The taking of a human life is a vile and evil act, made even more shocking because it was carried out when young children were present."
The killing was also condemned by a local DUP councillor.
Police are investigating a shooting in Co Armagh in which shots were fired at a house in the village of Lawrencetown.
Four people in the house at the time of the early morning attack escaped injury.
Police said the shooting was not believed to have a sectarian motive.
Loyalists are also suspected of involvement in a gun and petrol-bomb attack on a house in north Belfast early yesterday.
One of two petrol bombs struck a car and caravan outside the house in Westland Drive and there were reports of shots being fired as the attackers sped off in a car.
Mr Sam Duddy, chairman of the Ulster Political Research Group, blamed loyalists from the Shankill Road area. He said the family in the house were the victims of "continual harassment".
In another incident, an 18-year-old man is being treated in hospital after being shot in the legs in a paramilitary-style attack in the Shankill Road area of west Belfast..
He was in the kitchen of a house in Crimea Street when three men smashed in the front door and attacked him, said police.
One of the men had a handgun and shot the victim in both thighs, while others battered him with iron bars.