Police have identified the 35-year-old man who was found dead with serious injuries inside a £350,000 bungalow.
Edward Reeve’s body was found by armed officers responding to a report of concerns for the welfare of an occupant of a detached home in Christchurch, Dorset, at 7.53pm on Tuesday.
A 16-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of murder, Dorset Police said.
Officers attended the scene and, according to neighbours, battered down the adjoining garage door to gain entry and hurled smoke grenades into the chalet bungalow.
Upon entry, police discovered the body of a man in his 30s with serious injuries inside the three-bedroom suburban home at around 8pm.
The force announced shortly after midnight on Friday that a 16-year-old suspect had been apprehended and was ‘assisting detectives with their enquiries’.
On Friday afternoon, Dorset Police added: ‘Detectives who launched a murder investigation following the death of a man in Heath Road in Christchurch are confirming his identity as 35-year-old Edward Reeve.’
Dorset Police confirmed the victim was 35-year-old Edward Reeve (pictured). He was found dead with serious injuries inside a bungalow
Dorset police received a report of concerns for the welfare of a person at 7.53pm on Tuesday and armed officers attended the property (pictured) in Christchurch, Dorset
According to neighbours, officers battered down the adjoining garage door to gain entry and hurled smoke grenades into the bungalow. Pictured: Forensic team at the scene on Wednesday
Officers are still urging anyone who was in the Heath Road area of Christchurch between Saturday and Tuesday and saw ‘any suspicious activity or anything out of the ordinary’ to contact Dorset Police.
Detectives are also appealing for any residents in the Heath Road vicinity with home CCTV systems of dashcam footage from vehicles that were in the area during the timeframe of interest to check their footage.
Detective Inspector Simon Huxter of the Major Crime Investigation Team added: ‘Our thoughts remain with the family and friends of the man who sadly died and our specially-trained officers will continue to provide support to them. They have been kept fully updated in respect of this development.
‘Finally, I am renewing my plea for anyone who knows the occupant of 6 Heath Road to please come forward as you may have important information to assist our investigation.
‘There will still be a police presence in the area and local officers can be approached by members of the public with any information or concerns.’
Those with information are asked to contact the force at www.dorset.police.uk, via email [email protected], by calling 101 or anonymously via Crimestoppers and quoting occurrence number 55220001688.
A neighbour, who wished to remain anonymous, said eight police vans, an ambulance and a police helicopter attended the incident.
He claimed six armed officers approached the address before battering down the garage door.
He said: ‘I heard the helicopter over head for quite some time then armed police arrived and tried to enter the property.
‘They threw a smoke grenade inside and battered down the garage door.
Upon entry, officers discovered the body of a man in his 30s with serious injuries inside the three-bedroom suburban home (officers pictured at the house on Friday) at around 8pm
The man’s next of kin have been informed and the coroner has been told about the death, Dorset Police confirmed. Pictured: Police at the scene in Christchurch on Wednesday
Detective Chief Inspector Emma Sweetzer, of Dorset Police, said they were appealing for witnesses who may have seen or heard anything suspicious in the area since Sunday
‘They checked the surrounding gardens and I think they gained entry to the house from the back.
‘We (neighbours) were told to go back in our homes. There was an ambulance there but I didn’t see anyone come out.’
Neighbour Janine Mears, 41, a secondary school welfare officer, said: ‘It’s a really nice community and I’ve been told it’s an isolated incident.
‘I’ve lived here for over 10 years and I can’t quite believe it.’
On Wednesday morning, a cordon remained in place with a forensics van, a police van and two police cars outside the address.
In a statement earlier this week, Detective Chief Inspector Emma Sweetzer said officers will be carrying out a full investigation to find ‘those responsible’.
She added: ‘Our thoughts are with the family of the man who sadly died.
‘We will be carrying out a full investigation to establish exactly what happened at the address. All efforts are directed at finding those responsible.
‘I am appealing to anyone who saw or heard anything suspicious in the area since Sunday 2 January 2022 to please contact us.
A neighbour, who wished to remain anonymous, said eight police vans, an ambulance and a police helicopter attended the scene. Pictured: Forensics at the scene on Wednesday
The neighbour claimed six armed officers approached the address before battering down the garage door. Pictured: Forensics at the property on Wednesday
In a statement, DCI Sweetzer said officers will be ‘carrying out a full investigation to find ‘those responsible’. Pictured: Forensic teams at the scene on Wednesday
‘A cordon has been put in place at the address and there will continue to be a heavy police presence in the vicinity as we carry out enquiries.
‘Officers can be approached by members of the public with any information or concerns.’
Anyone with information is asked to contact Dorset Police at www.dorset.police.uk, via email [email protected] or by calling 101, quoting occurrence number 55220001688.
Alternatively, you can anonymously contact the independent charity Crimestoppers online at Crimestoppers-uk.org or call their freephone service on 0800 555 111.
Source: dailymail
