Street in shock as tributes laid for murdered Leeds man on 'quiet, friendly street'
A man is thought to have been attacked by a gang of four with weapons
“Distressed” Leeds residents have spoken of their heartbreak after a man was murdered after being attacked by a gang on their street.
West Yorkshire Police have launched a murder investigation after the man, aged 38, died in hospital after he was attacked with “weapons” outside Don Robins House, a supported living facility managed by St George’s Crypt, on Hedley Chase, New Wortley, at 10.23pm on Saturday, October 24. He later died in hospital. It’s suspected a gang of four were involved in the attack and those responsible are still at large.
Flowers and heartfelt messages were left beside Don Robins House addressed to ‘Reema’. They said: ‘Forever in our hearts until we meet again’, ‘Love you always’, and ‘Thinking of you always, I love you. Forever my big bro.’
Police have since been combing the nearby field - which has been taped off with a huge cordon in place - looking for evidence, on Monday, October 26. Residents on the street have spoken about the tragedy and how it’s a “nice quiet street” usually free of criminality in the surrounding area.
Others who live nearby opened up about regularly seeing “intimidating” youths with weapons, like knives and poles, in the neighbourhood.
One woman, who only wanted to be known as Ruth, has lived on the street for 10 years. She said she was told the victim was chased by a gang with knives, all the way from Town Street, down the hill, which leads to Hedley Chase, until they reached Don Robins House, where the man was then attacked.
She first noticed “something off” when blue lights started flashing through her windows from police cars on the street. She says there’s been lots of police scouring the nearby field searching for an item and she’s even seen drones flying over the green.
Ruth said: “As far as I’m concerned, this is a quiet neighbourhood. The majority of the neighbours are retired and families. We’re very lucky with this [nearby] playpark. Everyone is very nice and tidy.”
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Another resident, a mum-of-one who didn’t want to be named, said she was distressed when she spotted the man’s family visiting the crime scene.
She said: “This is a nice street and it’s not something you hear of every day. I’ve been here 16 years. I’ve got lovely neighbours, really, really lovely neighbours. The park is lovely and it’s rammed, especially in the summer. We don’t ever see anything like this. I thought ‘God, what has gone on?’
“He was the same age as me, it’s awful, terrible. I found it upsetting when you think of his family, it becomes more of a real thing. I did see family turning up and it was quite distressing. We’re a big community and we do stick together. It seems like he was a popular person. There were flowers laid outside for him.”
Ellicia, 29, has lived in the area for four years. She said: “It doesn’t surprise me. Around here, there’s always something going on. It’s probably the worst area for this. It’s horrible. I don’t normally leave my house as what it’s like around here.
“Last night I saw a big group of lads fighting with weapons. All the time around here. They fight with poles, wooden poles and knives.”
James, 42, who works as a housing officer, also lives in the area. He said: “There’s always youths in gangs masked up and stuff. It’s intimidating. It’s around this area, this exact area.
“They’ve stopped me as they thought I was an undercover police officer and they started questioning me. I was thinking in my head ‘Have they got knives?’ You just don’t know. They give off that vibe. I’m starting to feel a bit uneasy walking on a night.”
A spokesperson for St George’s Crypt said: “On the evening of Saturday, October 24, an incident spilled over into the grounds of Don Robins House, Hedley Chase, Armley, a property owned and managed by St George’s Crypt.
“The incident sadly resulted in someone’s death. The incident was completely unconnected with the residents, staff, or St George’s Crypt. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of the person who lost their life.”