This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/dec/28/elderly-woman-shot-dead-at-essex-care-home
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Elderly woman shot dead at Essex care home | Elderly woman shot dead at Essex care home |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A murder inquiry is under way after a woman in her 80s was shot dead at a care home in Essex. | |
| Essex police have identified the victim as Rita King, 81. An 86-year-old man, a resident in the same home and who was known to the victim, was arrested at the scene on suspicion of murder. | |
| Emergency services were called to Delamer House in Walton-on-the-Naze shortly after 9am on Monday following reports that a woman had been seriously injured. She was declared dead at the scene, and police said she was believed to have been shot. | Emergency services were called to Delamer House in Walton-on-the-Naze shortly after 9am on Monday following reports that a woman had been seriously injured. She was declared dead at the scene, and police said she was believed to have been shot. |
| The incident took place in a communal area of the 57-bed home. On hearing shots, staff moved in to disarm the man, police said. Detectives have recovered a weapon and are not looking for any one else in connection with their investigation. | The incident took place in a communal area of the 57-bed home. On hearing shots, staff moved in to disarm the man, police said. Detectives have recovered a weapon and are not looking for any one else in connection with their investigation. |
| DCI Simon Werrett said: “It is an unusual investigation. Both parties involved are residents in the care home. We are speaking with members of staff to find out if they witnessed any unusual behaviour this morning.” | DCI Simon Werrett said: “It is an unusual investigation. Both parties involved are residents in the care home. We are speaking with members of staff to find out if they witnessed any unusual behaviour this morning.” |
| Speaking outside the home, he said: “The weapon has been recovered from the man’s possession … Members of staff stepped in to remove the weapon from the man.” | Speaking outside the home, he said: “The weapon has been recovered from the man’s possession … Members of staff stepped in to remove the weapon from the man.” |
| Scene of crime officers were seen searching a downstairs bedroom, but Werrett, who is leading the investigation, confirmed: “The incident did not take place in a bedroom. It took place in a communal area.” | Scene of crime officers were seen searching a downstairs bedroom, but Werrett, who is leading the investigation, confirmed: “The incident did not take place in a bedroom. It took place in a communal area.” |
| A police guard has been put in place at premises, on Naze Park Road, while forensic searches are carried out. | A police guard has been put in place at premises, on Naze Park Road, while forensic searches are carried out. |
| Eric Moseley, 69, who lives opposite the care home, said he heard “two or three bangs”, but put it down to military testing on nearby MoD land. “I did hear two or three bangs. Now that makes sense. It was probably the gun,” he said. | Eric Moseley, 69, who lives opposite the care home, said he heard “two or three bangs”, but put it down to military testing on nearby MoD land. “I did hear two or three bangs. Now that makes sense. It was probably the gun,” he said. |
| “I put it down to the testing we hear quite often. To be honest, the first I really knew of it was when five police cars, two ambulances and one paramedic car turned up. I knew it was serious then.” | “I put it down to the testing we hear quite often. To be honest, the first I really knew of it was when five police cars, two ambulances and one paramedic car turned up. I knew it was serious then.” |
| The local Ukip MP, Douglas Carswell, said the news was “very shocking”. | The local Ukip MP, Douglas Carswell, said the news was “very shocking”. |
| “If you have a loved one in a care home, you expect them to be safe. People need to know the exact circumstances of what happened. It is extremely disturbing,” he said. | “If you have a loved one in a care home, you expect them to be safe. People need to know the exact circumstances of what happened. It is extremely disturbing,” he said. |
| “Walton-on-the-Naze is supposed to be one of the most peaceful and tranquil places there is. Elderly people want to be in a peaceful and tranquil environment. Of all the places you expect this to happen, this is the last.” | “Walton-on-the-Naze is supposed to be one of the most peaceful and tranquil places there is. Elderly people want to be in a peaceful and tranquil environment. Of all the places you expect this to happen, this is the last.” |
| Carswell added: “I know the care home well; I have been several times. I know the staff are very good people and they must be fairly shocked by this.” | Carswell added: “I know the care home well; I have been several times. I know the staff are very good people and they must be fairly shocked by this.” |
| John Knights, a retired financial adviser whose wife runs a nearby guest house, said security at the care home appeared to be tight. “My mother had to go into Delamer about two years ago and I can tell you it was quite tricky to get in and out of there. | John Knights, a retired financial adviser whose wife runs a nearby guest house, said security at the care home appeared to be tight. “My mother had to go into Delamer about two years ago and I can tell you 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 keypads on the door, so to get inside you needed to know those. Whoever was responsible must have known the code.” | “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 keypads on the door, so to get inside you needed to know those. Whoever was responsible must have known the code.” |
| There was no immediate comment from the care home. | There was no immediate comment from the care home. |