An adolescent male has been arrested on the grounds of murder following a stabbing incident involving Billy Ripley in a bustling commercial district.
The 17-year-old was apprehended and restrained after an extensive search in Hailsham, near Eastbourne, last night, after the finding of a deceased individual in the town centre.
Billy Ripley, a male in his twenties, was discovered in the Vicarage Field vicinity at approximately 6:20 pm with a puncture wound caused by a stabbing. Paramedics at the site declared the victim deceased. The news has been conveyed to his family.
Law enforcement officers and investigators are already in the vicinity this morning, endeavouring to reconstruct the events that occurred last night. They have strongly encouraged those possessing any relevant information to step forward and provide it.
Chief Inspector James Scott expressed that the tragedy is a tragic event that he acknowledges will cause pain in the community.
“We express our condolences to the family of this young man as we strive to comprehend the precise details of this evening’s events.”
The police cordoned off the High Street in Hailsham.
Police cordoned off many places, including the High Street, Vicarage Field shopping centre and a nearby churchyard, in response to the incident. Green barricades were erected to obstruct the public’s view of the scene.
The police instructed the public to avoid the vicinity during the ongoing search for a suspect.
The substantial police presence will continue to be present in the vicinity, both as a component of the ongoing investigation and to provide a sense of security. “If you have any apprehensions, I strongly encourage you to communicate with an officer,” Chief Inspector Scott continued.
“We are urging any individuals who observed the occurrence or possess information that could be of assistance to contact the police online or by dialling 101, referencing Operation Par.”
The adolescent suspect was discovered at a premises in the town later on Thursday evening and is currently being held by the police.
If you or anyone you know have been affected by the people highlighted in this article, then please report those individuals to the Police on 101 (999 if an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details of the options for reporting a crime. You can also make a report at Crimestoppers should you wish to be completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.