Woman Murdered At Walton Care Home Named

29 December 2015, 06:36 | Updated: 29 December 2015, 06:38

Police investigating the murder of a woman at a care home in Walton have identified the victim as 81 year-old Rita King.

Officers were called to De La Mer House, on Naze Park Road, at around 9am yesterday to reports a woman had been seriously injured.

They and paramedics attended, but Ms King died at the scene.

It is believed she was shot and police say they have now recovered a revolver from the scene, which will now be examined by forensic and ballistic experts.

A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder and is currently being questioned.

Essex Police has confirmed the man is another resident at the care home and knew the victim.

DCI Simon Werrett who is leading the investigation said: "At this stage we are not looking for anyone else in connection with the investigation and our enquiries are ongoing".

The manager at a care home where an 81-year-old woman was shot dead has described how she convinced the alleged gunman to hand over his weapon.

Julie Curtis, who has run De La Mer residential home for two years, said she saw the man walking towards her holding a gun.

She put her arm around the man, who had reportedly been staying at the home for one week, and pleaded for him to drop the weapon.

She told the Press Association: "I put my left arm around him and put his right arm between him and the gun and said 'please, please give me the gun', and he let go.''