Murder inquiry as boy dies in assault
999 CREWS UNSUCCESSFUL IN TRYING TO SAVE LIFE OF TEENAGE VICTIM, AND POLICE WARN THAT THEY WILL HAVE INCREASED PRESENCE IN AREA FOLLOWING TRAGEDY –
A MURDER investigation has been launched after the death of a 17-yearold boy following a serious assault at a shopping centre.
Derbyshire police have confirmed the teenager died at The Pipeworks retail park in Swadlincote town centre after an assault that happened in an alleyway at the side of the Odeon cinema just before 10.40pm on Saturday.
Ambulance crews attended but were unsuccessful in their attempts to save the teenager.
A 20-year-old man was also found with serious injuries. He was taken to hospital where he is currently in a stable condition.
Officers have now launched a murder inquiry. An area around The Pipeworks remain closed off yesterday while further inquiries were carried out.
People will see an increased police presence in the area, and anyone with any concerns is encouraged to speak to officers, a police spokesman said.
He said: “We are particularly keen to speak to anyone who may have been on Rink Drive, around the rear of the Odeon cinema or Morrisons, and noticed any people in the area, or have dashcam footage of your journey.
“Anyone in the area between around 10pm and 11pm last night [Saturday] who witnessed an assault, noticed suspicious activity, or with any information which could help with our inquiries should contact us.
“You can submit information directly to our investigation team here: https:// mipp.police.uk/ operation/33em21a18-po1”
Alternatively, witnesses can call 101, or contact Derbyshire police via its social media channels, quoting reference 1397-120621.
Eyewitnesses in the area have told how they saw a lot of police activity, with officers stopping anyone from leaving businesses at the site, including Snap Fitness gym, after the incident.
A gym user said: “I was in the gym when we just police car after police car come into The Pipeworks. Then police came into all the businesses and stopped people leaving for a bit. I was stopped from leaving the gym for a bit, for about 20 minutes. They were asking for phone numbers of people who own the businesses, probably for security cameras.
“When I got out of the gym I saw a police car at Aldi, one at the cinema, big police cars driving up the passageway down the alleyway by side of cinema. There were a few police cars the other side of the alley and an ambulance outside Prezzo for about five to 10 minutes. Police were running about.
“I was shocked. I have never seen anything like it in Swadlincote before.”