Knifed to death on his doorstep
Screams as grandfather, 73, is stabbed multiple times in ‘random attack’
A GRANDFATHER has been stabbed to death on his doorstep in what police say could be a ‘random attack’.
The 73-year-old is believed to have been knifed multiple times in front of a horrified family member around 9.20pm on Sunday before the assailant fled.
Yesterday morning police found a second man dead in a car in a suspected suicide six miles away. They believe it could be linked to the murder.
Neighbours near the quiet culde-sac in Kingsteignton, Devon, where the attack happened, said they heard a woman screaming in the street after the stabbing.
The victim, who was named locally as Peter Freeman, was taken to Torbay hospital but died shortly afterwards.
Neighbours described Mr Freeman as a ‘lovely bloke and a really good neighbour’ who was ‘not the sort of person who would have enemies’.
Police said the ‘heinous’ crime was an ‘exceedingly rare event’ in Devon and launched a murder investigation.
Detective Superintendent Mike West, head of major crime, said: ‘There is every indication at the moment, in the evidence collated to date, to say it is a random attack.
‘There is no indication whatsoever that there is a wider group of people involved.
‘It is important we approach the two deaths with an open mind but because of the rarity of this sort of incident it would make sense for us to make sure, due to proximity, that we consider them in tandem.’
Police said the second man was found dead in a car on the coast near Labrador Bay in Shaldon. They have appealed for anyone who saw a blue Skoda Fabia in the vicinity to speak to officers. Mr West added: ‘This death is not currently being treated as suspicious and we are responding to the incident as a suspected suicide.’ Superintendent for South Devon Jeremy Capey said: ‘Understandably, this incident will cause much concern and upset among our local community. Our thoughts go out to the victim’s family during this time and we will continue to support them, providing as much assistance as we can.’
One neighbour described hearing a woman screaming on Sunday night, adding: ‘We were awake and we saw all the blue lights, then a big police Range Rover pulled up outside.
‘Armed police got out with their guns and a police officer came and knocked on our door and asked if we had seen or heard anything.’
Residents in the area were told by police to keep their windows and doors locked as they hunted for the suspect.
A neighbour said: ‘ This is a close-knit community and I can’t understand why this has happened. Peter had not long retired. He was not the sort of person who would have enemies and it is just so tragic.
‘I believe he worked in the building trade, the same as I did, and he was just an all-round nice guy.
‘All we know is there was a fracas. We did not know anything was going on until we heard the police helicopter overhead.’
Another neighbour said: ‘Peter was a lovely bloke and a really good neighbour.
‘It is a terrible thing that has happened. We are all in deep shock. I knew him and his wife well. We are all friends around here and it is just devastating.’
Another neighbour added: ‘You never expect anything like that around here. It’s very quiet at that time of night as everyone is in watching TV.’