Newport shooting: Man found dead in woods

A man wanted in connection with a shooting in a hairdresser's in Newport, south Wales, has been found dead in woods, Gwent Police said.

One woman was shot in the knee in Carol Ann's salon in Malpas Road on Friday. Two others suffered minor injuries.

Police had been urgently trying to trace the man after the incident, at about 14:20 BST.

Officers later confirmed the man's body was found in Brynglas Woods in the city.

The man's body was discovered at about 20:15 BST on Friday, and a grey Mini Cooper car that police were seeking was also found in the Newport area.

A police spokesman said: "We are not treating his death as suspicious. We are not looking for anyone in connection with his death.

"We are supporting the families of all concerned in this incident and our priority is to ensure they are kept informed as we continue to investigate exactly what happened.

"We are extremely grateful for the support we have received from people living and working in the Malpas Road area of the city, whose lives and businesses were considerably disrupted during the day."

Kataru Reddy, who works at the Shell petrol station opposite the salon, heard the shooting.

"I heard two shots. I know that a lady was shot," he said.

Shells found

Mr Reddy said Malpas Road north of the city centre was closed after police vehicles arrived about 10 minutes later with a team which included five police marksmen.

Two of the injured women were taken to the Royal Gwent Hospital. The third is also receiving medical treatment.

Gwent Police said they had recovered the gun used in the attack as well as shell casings.

Susan Wakeham, who runs Hairs & Graces hair salon across the road, said she knew the owner of the premises.

She said: "You don't expect something like this to happen on a busy main road on a Friday afternoon. It's quite scary actually.

"I know the salon owner. I know of the girl who's been shot but I don't know her in person. I know the salon owner and she must be in a hell of state."

'Quiet area'

Two elderly customers were seen running from the salon with towels on their heads and screaming for help.

Police have sectioned off the road around the salon while a forensic science team carries out an investigation.

Eyewitness Joyce Bigmoore arrived at the scene just as the gunman ran down a nearby road.

She said: "It's a very quiet area normally."

Amanda Butler was travelling in a car on her way to a doctor's surgery when the shooting happened.

She told BBC Wales: "We saw a large amount of police officers and vehicles.

"You could hear the helicopter above… people at the surgery were coming in quite shellshocked."

'Shop obliterated'

Labour councillor Paul Cockeram, who represents the Shaftsbury ward where the incident happened, said he was shocked.

"The shop is obliterated apparently. It's amazing nobody died.

"The salon is predominantly a more senior sort of hairdresser's salon. There would have been a lot of elderly people in there, I would have thought. They would have been extremely frightened.

"It's not an area known for violence - I just can't believe it.

"I don't have any problems with antisocial behaviour in the ward - I know of areas where something like this is more likely to happen."

The Gwent force have appealed for anyone with information about the incident, and in particular relating to the shotgun, to contact them by dialling 101 or via Crimestoppers.