Residents have spoken of their shock after a murder probe was launched in Felling.
Emergency services were called to Elliott Drive in Felling, Gateshead, at around after 9.10pm last night. Police say a 40-year-old man was found inside a home with what officers have described as “injuries consistent with having been caused by a bladed article.”
He was pronounced dead soon after and a murder investigation was launched.
Locals said police taped off a large area of Elliott Drive last night and officers have been at the scene all day. Shocked neighbors watched on as forensic investigators wearing white overalls walked into a home behind the cordon to examine the scene.
Uniformed police officers were also knocking on doors near the property and plain-clothes detectives later arrived at the scene. People living nearby told ChronicleLive that they had heard a man had been murdered.
One woman, who asked not to be named said: “It’s been taped off like that all through the night. The police knocked on my door to ask if I had seen or heard anything. The police were all over. They cordoned off everywhere off then the forensics were there. You don’t think it would happen so close to your house.
And another woman, who also didn’t want to be identified, said: “I was coming home from the bar and the police asked us where I was going. I was ready to move out this morning.”
Andrew Duffie, whose home backs onto the scene of the investigation, said police had taken footage from his home CCTV camera.
The 87-year-old explained: “They have been and they have taken 15 hours of footage from my cameras. They wouldn’t tell us what happened. I asked them but they said they couldn’t say anything. I take it it’s seriously. It looks that way.
“I never saw anything last night. I just got woken up at about 12am by them banging on the door. I’m not shocked. I have been here more than 40 years. There’s been things happening over the years.”
Police were also at Holly Hill garage, which is close to Elliott Drive, and a cordon was in place at its entrance.
Gordon Fallon, 55, who also lives close by said the incident had left him worried.
“I live next to where it’s happened. When I saw it all taped off I knew it was obviously serious,” he said. “I have only been here a few years. It’s a shock to see all this, it is getting worse. It’s not nice to see. Every time my daughter comes to see us I ask her to let me know she’s got in safely. When I’m in the house the doors are always locked and the sneck is on.”
Det Supt Jane Fairlamb, of Northumbria Police, said: “First and foremost, I would like to extend our condolences to the family and loved ones of the man who has sadly lost his life. An investigation has been launched and our officers are committed to getting them the answers they fully deserve.
“Inquiries are at an early stage, and we do believe all parties involved are known to each other and there is no wider threat to the public. A cordon is in place and officers remain at the scene and across the wider area as part of the ongoing investigation, and I would encourage anyone with concerns to speak to them.
“I also urge people to refrain from sharing speculation on social media which could jeopardize our active inquiries. As ever, we would ask anyone with information to assist our investigation or anyone who saw anything suspicious in the area on Saturday to get in touch.
“Anyone with information should call Northumbria Police on 101, quoting reference NP-20240427-1086”
