Five children have been arrested on suspicion of murder after an 80-year-old dog walker died following a “serious” assault in a park.
Leicestershire Police have launched a murder investigation after the elderly man died in hospital due to injuries he sustained in Franklin Park in Braunstone Town, Leicestershire, at around 6.30pm on Sunday.
Officers have arrested a boy and a girl aged 14 and one boy and two girls aged 12 on suspicion of murder.
The victim was walking his dog when he was assaulted by a group of young people, Leicestershire Police said.
In a statement, Det Insp Emma Matts, senior investigating officer, said: “Sadly, following the death of the victim last night, this has now become a murder investigation.
“Officers are continuing to work at speed to establish the details of the attack and we have made a number of arrests as we continue to understand what has happened.”
Speaking yesterday before his death, the alleged victim’s daughter claimed he was kicked in the neck and spine.
She told LeicestershireLive: “He had been taking the dog for a walk. He was about 30 seconds away from getting home when he was attacked. He was lying under the tree and at first he was complaining about his neck and now he’s not able to move his legs.
“He’s always been very active – he has three allotments. We’ve lived here for 40 years and just recently there’s been a lot of anti-social behaviour, which has been reported to the police.”
The alleged victim is believed to have been wearing a black jumper and grey jogging bottoms at the time of the incident.
The assault happened close to the park entrance in Bramble Way and the group of young people fled the scene before emergency services arrived, the force said.
Police added they want to speak to anyone who was in the park or the area of Bramble Way between 6pm and 6.45pm on Sunday.
Source Agencies
