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Essex care home shooting: Police name victim as male resident is arrested on suspicion of murder Essex care home shooting: Husband, 86, arrested at care home after wife is shot dead
(about 3 hours later)
A care home resident has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a woman in her eighties living at the same home was shot dead. A care home resident was arrested on suspicion of murder today after a woman in her eighties was shot dead at the same address.
The pensioner was declared dead at the scene, at De La Mer House in Walton-on-the-Naze, near Clacton, Essex. An 86-year-old man was held at the scene on suspicion of murder. Police confirmed both people were known to each other and were residents at the home.  The victim, named by police as Mrs Rita King, aged 81, was declared dead at the scene at De La Mer House in Walton-on-the-Naze, near Clacton, Essex.  An 86-year-old man, understood to be her husband Ronald, was arrested at the scene on suspicion  of murder. 
The shooting, believed to have taken place in a communal area in the home, occurred shortly after breakfast. Police confirmed they had recovered a weapon from the scene. It is understood staff took the gun from the man before police arrived. The arrested man had been temporarily staying at the home over Christmas. Mrs King was also a resident.
Detective Chief Inspector Simon Werrett, who is leading the investigation, said: “At this stage we are not looking for anyone else in connection with the investigation and our inquiries are ongoing.” After the shooting the man reportedly said: “She has had enough,” staff at the home said last night.
A scene guard has been put in place at the premises while forensic searches are conducted. Essex police said that both the suspect and the victim’s next of kin had been informed. The shooting, believed to have taken place in a communal area of the property, occurred shortly after breakfast. Police confirmed they had found a revolver at the scene. Staff took the gun from the man before police arrived.
Nearby resident John Knights said security was tight at the care home. The retired financial adviser, whose wife Marlene runs the Bucket and Spade guest house a short distance from De La Mer House, said: “My mother had to go into De La Mer about two years ago and I can tell you that it was quite tricky to get in and out of there. Julie Curtis, the manager of the home, said:  “I put my left arm around him and put his right arm between him and the gun and said ‘please, please give me the gun’, and he let go.”
Detective Chief Inspector Simon Werrett, who is leading the investigation, said: “At this stage, we are not looking for anyone else in connection with the investigation and our inquiries are ongoing.”
The premises were placed under guard while forensic searches were conducted by Essex Police
The force said that the next of kin of both the victim and the suspect had been informed.
John Knights, who lives near the care home, said security was tight at the property. The retired financial adviser, whose wife Marlene runs a guest house a short distance from the property, said: “My mother had to go into De La Mer about two years ago, and I can tell you that it was quite tricky to get in and out of there.
“Security was tight. You couldn’t just go up to the building and get in. You needed a security code to get in. It had electronic key pads on the door, so to get inside you needed to know those.”“Security was tight. You couldn’t just go up to the building and get in. You needed a security code to get in. It had electronic key pads on the door, so to get inside you needed to know those.”
Care home manager Julie Curtis was unavailable for comment. A spokeswoman said there would be no comment until staff had spoken with police. Douglas Carswell, the Ukip MP for the area, said he was “very shocked”. He added: “If you have got a loved one in a care home, you expect them to be safe. Walton-on-the-Naze is supposed to be one of the most peaceful and tranquil places there is. Of all the places you expect this to happen, this is the last.”
Douglas Carswell, the Ukip MP for the area, said he was “very shocked”. Mr Carswell said he knew the residential home well and it had recently been renovated. “I have been several times,” he added. “I know the staff are very good people.”
He said: “If you have got a loved one in a care home, you expect them to be safe. Walton-on-the-Naze is supposed to be one of the most peaceful and tranquil places there is. Of all the places you expect this to happen, this is the last.”
Mr Carswell said he knew the residential home well and said it had recently been renovated. “I have been several times. I know the staff are very good people.”
A Care Quality Commission report into the 55-bed home last year found that “people were cared for in an environment that was safe, clean and hygienic. The appropriate recruitment checks had been completed prior to staff being employed”.A Care Quality Commission report into the 55-bed home last year found that “people were cared for in an environment that was safe, clean and hygienic. The appropriate recruitment checks had been completed prior to staff being employed”.
The home is owned by Dr Krishnan Malhotra and his wife Shalini. Mrs Malhotra is the eldest daughter of Sir Anerood Jugnauth, the current Prime Minister of Mauritius.  The home is owned by Dr Krishnan Malhotra and his wife, Shalini.
The couple became embroiled in a political scandal in the Indian Ocean nation after the Mauritian government agreed to buy a private medical clinic from a company that Shalini Malhotra was a leading shareholder in and Dr Malhotra was a director of. Mrs Malhotra is the eldest daughter of  Sir Anerood Jugnauth, the current Prime Minister of Mauritius.