MURDER suspects are being questioned after a young Rugby man was found dead with shotgun wounds in a car by the roadside, in what police described as a “targeted incident”.
The body of Jordan Matthew Banton, 23, was found in Newton Road between Newton village and Newton Manor Lane at around 11.40am on Friday (July 25). A post-mortem revealed he died of a shotgun wound to the head.
Three men from the Rugby area, aged 19, 28 and 34, have been arrested on suspicion of murder and are being questioned by police.
Emergency services were called at around 11.45am after one car left the road while another, a silver/blue Vauxhall Insignia, was seen speeding away along Newton Road through Newton and towards the A5.
The culprit is believed to have escaped in the Vauxhall, which was found in Hillmorton just after 7pm on Sunday (July 27).
Newton Road was cordoned off by police between Newton village and Newton Manor Lane throughout the weekend, as officers searched the area and made door-to-door enquiries.
A 19 year old man from the Rugby area was arrested for murder late on Saturday night, and on Monday magistrates gave the police permission to question him for a further 48 hours.
Two men aged 28 and 34 are also in custody after they were arrested in Cardiff on Monday on suspicion of murder.
On Friday, a woman was arrested and later released with no further action being taken, while a man in his 30s was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder and was released on bail on Saturday.
Another man in his 30s was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder on Saturday, and was bailed pending further enquiries.
Superintendent Adrian McGee, who is leading the murder investigation, said: “This is a murder of a young man on a remote rural road.
“I would like to reassure the local community that we believe this to be a targeted incident.
“Although six arrests have now been made as part of our investigation, we would still like to hear from anyone who may have information which could assist us.”
Mr Banton’s family have been kept updated about the ongoing investigation, while receiving support from specially trained officers.
Anyone who has any information to assist is asked to contact police on telephone 101 quoting incident number 155 of the 25 July 2014.
If anyone wishes to speak to the police in confidence this can be arranged. Information can also be provided anonymously via independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
