'Complex' burglary shooting death case continues

Forensic teams took over the farm site in Whaley Bridge following the fatal shooting

An investigation into a fatal shooting which happened during a burglary is continuing a year on, police said.

In the early hours of 1 May 2024, Derbyshire Police was called to reports of a burglary in Eccles Road in Whaley Bridge and found 19-year-old Marcus Smith with fatal gunshot wounds, and another teen with a gunshot wound nearby.

A man in his 50s was arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder, and three others - aged 19, 21 and 31 respectively - were arrested in connection with the burglary.

They all remain on bail, police said, and a "complex" probe is still under way.

A "complex" case is being built by police

The initial call made to police, at about 01:20 BST, was a report of a burglary.

Mr Smith, a resident of neighbouring Chapel-en-le-Frith who played football for a local team and was a DJ at a pub in the area, was found fatally injured at the scene.

A second 19-year-old found injured nearby was taken to hospital.

He was later arrested on suspicion of aggravated burglary, while a 21-year-old was arrested on suspicion of aggravated burglary after the vehicle he was travelling in was stopped on the A6 near Chapel-en-le-Frith later the same day.

The following day, a 31-year-old was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit burglary.

Mr Smith was fatally wounded in the burglary

Det Chief Insp Claudia Musson, who is leading the investigation, said the force was working "tirelessly" to "build a file" to allow the Crown Prosecution Service to take the case to court.

She said: "While some time has now passed, investigations of this kind are complex and rely on expert evidence which does take time.

"It is important that a proportionate and thorough investigation takes place and that is what myself and my team are focused on."

A man in his late teens arrested at the time on suspicion of assisting an offender has been released without charge.

The rural town of Whaley Bridge was shocked by the incident last May