Did crossbow killer shoot neighbour after rowing about noise?
A MAN being hunted by police over the crossbow murder of his neighbour was found dead last night.
Anthony Lawrence, 56, vanished after an apparent dispute over latenight noise ended with the death of father-of-three Shane Gilmer, 30, and his pregnant girlfriend Laura Sugden being injured.
The tiny village of Southburn, near Driffield, East Yorkshire, was put on lockdown as police continued their hunt for the suspected killer.
But the manhunt ended last night when police found the body of Lawrence ‘in a vehicle’ in rural North Yorkshire.
Detective Chief Inspector Stewart Miller said the body of a man believed to be the suspect was discovered at 6pm.
Inquiries by officers led to his body being located, he added. Police believe Lawrence attacked the couple at their home, and a crossbow recovered from the scene is being examined by forensic scientists.
Miss Sugden, 27, who works for the local council, fled the house bleeding from a wound to raise the alarm.
Villager Chris King, 25, a factory worker, said Miss Sugden ran to a large farmhouse nearby at 9.20pm on Friday.
‘The lady had blood pouring down her face,’ he said. ‘It was terrifying. The woman was panicking and was scared.’
Miss Sugden and Mr Gilmer were taken to Hull Royal Infirmary, but he was later confirmed to have died from his injuries.
Detective Chief Superintendent Judi Heaton, of Humberside Police, said: ‘Laura’s injuries were not life threatening and
‘He kept himself to himself’
she and the baby are stable.’ A local man said he had heard that Lawrence, who lived alone, had threatened Mr Gilmer and Miss Sugden with an axe in a dispute over late-night noise.
Lawrence was said to be concerned about ‘loud music’ from his neighbours’ home.
The man, who asked not to be named, said: ‘We were told this guy had gone around and threatened them with an axe a month or so ago, but we don’t know any more details. Apparently, there was some problem over noise.’
Humberside Police refused to discuss details of the problem between Lawrence – also known by the name Tony Howarth – and the neighbours, but indicated that they were aware of the background.
Police named him as being wanted on suspicion of murder and attempted murder.
The suspect’s blue Vauxhall Meriva car was found in Driffield.
Southburn is a small community of around 20 houses, some of them rented by farm workers. Police had stopped all vehicles from entering the village.
Lawrence was not well known in the area and had lived in the village for a couple of years.
Mr Gilmer, who is understood to have three children from a previous relationship, and Miss Sugden had also arrived relatively recently.
Police dismissed a report that Lawrence had broken in through a cellar, saying that the house does not have a cellar.
A former neighbour said: ‘ He lived on his own and kept himself to himself. In fact, he hardly ever spoke.’ Police refused to confirm or deny if he had a criminal record.
Friends paid tribute to the murder victim, who is believed to have worked for the local council in the housing department.
One, Lisa George, said: ‘Shane never had a bad word to say about anyone and would bend over backwards to help anyone. He is going to leave a large hole in a lot of people’s lives.’ Another commented: ‘Such a lovely person who helped a lot of people.’
A former neighbour of Miss Sugden said: ‘She is a lovely girl and what’s happened is terrible.’