A 60-year-old man who was shot dead in a house over the weekend has been named by police.
Barry Dawson was inside a terraced home on Elm Street in Stanley, County Durham, on Saturday afternoon when he was fatally shot. Emergency services rushed to the scene at around 5:20pm but despite the best efforts of medics, Mr Dawson died at the scene. Durham Constabulary confirmed yesterday that a 37-year-old man and a 35-year-old woman were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to murder. They remain in custody. Officers are continuing to appeal to the public for information including anyone who saw a white Seat Arona in the area at the time.
The vehicle has since been found abandoned close by and has been examined by investigators. Forensic teams have also been spotted working in the street since Saturday while a police cordon remained in place.
Tributes were paid to Barry on social media following his death. Dawn Watson said in a post shared to Facebook: “RIP Barry Dawson (Buck). Such a gentle giant with a heart of gold who didn’t hurt a soul.
“So, so sad that you’ve been taken in the most hideous way. Thinking of your family at this sad time, my heart goes out to you all.” Margaret Smith added: “Oh no way, he was a lovely man. Thinking of his family at this very heart-breaking time.”
Beverley Ann Price commented: “OMG, no way I remember him from school. Thinking of his family at this sad time.” While Carole Penrose said: “Aww, so heart-breaking, man.”
Police said following the shooting that Mr Dawson’s family had been informed about his death. Officers later carried out house-to-house inquiries, the force confirmed.
Danielle Scott, who lives a few doors away from where the shooting happened, said it was “terrifying” and added: “I live on my own with my two-year-old daughter and I walk past that house on a daily basis to take my daughter to the park. I normally take her out around that time (of the shooting) as well.
“I don’t know if whoever has done it has been caught, that’s even more scary, I don’t know if it was a random attack. It’s just terrifying not knowing what’s going on. I never thought I would experience anything like this. I want to move out, I don’t want to be here.”
Nikki Miller told Tyne Tees News the victim was a friendly face in the street who was well-liked. She said: “Everyone knew him, there were no bad words about him. He was a working man and never in any trouble.”
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