Two arrested in Shrewsbury murder probe after man found dead

Police have arrested a 19-year-old man on suspicion of murder following the incident in Reabrook Avenue.

He was taken into custody by West Mercia Police last night and remained there today.

A 37-year-old woman has been arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender.

Paramedics were called just after 10.50 on Saturday night but despite carrying out emergency medical treatment, the 64-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene. The victim has yet to be formally identified.

Detectives said the death was still being treated as "unexplained" as officers investigate the exact cause.

They also issued an appeal for witnesses and information.

The leisure complex over the road from the incident in Old Potts Way was initially sealed off and bosses at Cineworld, Nando's, Beaten Track pub and Chinese buffet restaurant Dragon King were prevented from opening.

A cashpoint next to Cineworld was also taped off yesterday. Cordons around the leisure complex were taken down today. Reabrook Avenue remained cordoned off in parts but was reopened to traffic.

A police car remained parked outside Belle Vue Youth Club, on Rocke Street.

Detective Inspector Mark Bellamy, from CID in Shrewsbury, said: "A significant number of officers are involved in this investigation and it is being treated as a murder inquiry.

"Work is ongoing to establish the exact cause of this death and the dead man is yet to be formally identified.

"Late last night a 19-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder, while a 37-year-old woman is also in custody on suspicion of assisting an offender.

"These two individuals remain in custody in Shrewsbury this morning.

"Although arrests have been made, I would like to reiterate the fact that we remain keen to hear from anyone who believes they may have information that could aid our investigation into this unexplained death.

"Anyone who believes they may have information about this incident, especially anyone who saw anything unusual in the Reabrook Avenue or CineWorld Cinema area, between 10 and 11 on Saturday night, is asked to call West Mercia Police quoting incident number 772S 180513."

He added that the anonymous information could also be passed through the Crimestoppers number on 0800 555 111.

Residents living in Reabrook Avenue today spoke of their shock.

John Edwards, 74, who has lived in the street for 48 years, said he had been in The Beaten Track pub on Saturday night, going home shortly after 8pm.

He said there had been lots of people around the pub and the cinema but saw "nothing out of the ordinary".

But by Sunday as news of the incident filtered out, residents came outside their homes to see what was going on.

He said it was a shocking incident in what is normally a quiet area.

"This is Reabrook Avenue, not the east end of London. You don't expect this sort of thing," he said.

"It is so sad. It is something totally out of the ordinary which shocks you."

Mary Downes, 82, has lived in the street for more than 35 years and said she had never seen anything like it.

"We are all stunned," she said. "No-one seems to know what has happened and the police are refusing to say anything.

"I have lived here a long time and its certainly the first time to my knowledge anything like this has happened."

Another woman, who did not want to be named, said she thought she heard a scream in the middle of the night but admitted she was "half asleep".