Police have launched a murder probe after a pensioner in his 60s died in a ‘serious assault’ at a care home as a man, 43, has been arrested.
Police and forensics teams rushed to Longcroft Residential Care Home in Wickford, Essex, last night shortly before 7pm, after reports the elderly man was assaulted.
Despite the efforts of paramedics, the man was pronounced dead.
Police officers seen wearing face masks while at the scene, as a cordon remains in place
Essex Police said last night that a 43-year-old man from Wickford has been arrested and remains in police custody.
Police are guarding the entrance to the facility with a single officer watching over a cordon.
It follows a man being rushed to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries after being stabbed in the back at the same care home last year.
Just seven service users can be cared for at one time in the unit which was rated ‘Good’ by the Care Quality Commission.
Locals have been left shocked by the incident with residents revealing the man arrested was a care home resident.
A neighbour, who did not want to be named, revealed he saw the resident being led out in handcuffs.
Police and forensics in hazmat suits at Longcroft Residential Care Home in Wickford, Essex on Thursday evening, after a pensioner aged in his 60s died in a ‘serious assault’
Police vehicles and an ambulance outside the cordoned-off care home. A 43-year-old man from Wickford has been arrested, and remains in police custody, said Essex Police last night
And grandmother Avice Nunn, 84, said she saw the air ambulance desperately working to save the victim’s life.
‘We were watching the television and heard the air ambulance land in the field and went out,’ she said.
‘We knew something serious was going on, we saw them doing the CPR it was awful. Normally we don’t know the care home is there, it is usually very good – obviously someone got upset and something happened.
‘We knew something serious happening as normally you don’t get any problem with them at all.’
Another neighbour, who did not want to be named, said he saw the man being arrested who he identified as a resident.
He said: ‘The bloke they arrested is 100 per cent a resident, I saw him being led out in handcuffs by police last night.
Police at the care home in Wickford, Essex. Officers are guarding the entrance to the facility with a single officer watching over a cordon
A police vehicle and ambulance at the scene. Grandmother Avice Nunn, 84, said she saw an air ambulance desperately working to save the victim’s life
It follows a man being rushed to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries after being stabbed in the back at the same care home, pictured above, last year
‘It is a shock as the residents and carers there are all nice.
‘When it is carnival day, they all get their chairs and tables out and sit there and wave their flags.
‘Family always visit them and there is a really nice community spirit. It is a shock as it is a nice area around here.’
In a statement, Essex Police said: ‘A man has died following a serious assault at a care home in Wickford this evening, Thursday 2 July.
‘We were called shortly before 7pm, with reports that a man in his 60s had been assaulted at a residential care home on Swan Lane.
‘Despite effort of paramedics, the man sadly died. A 43-year-old man from Wickford has been arrested on suspicion of murder.
‘He remains in police custody.’
The care home was unavailable for comment.