A pregnant woman ‘pouring with blood’ ran for help after being attacked by an alleged ‘crossbow killer’ who broke into a property through a cellar and killed her boyfriend, neighbours claim.
Officers want to speak to Anthony Lawrence after a man and woman were allegedly attacked at a property in rural Southburn last night.
Shane Gilmer, 30, has been named locally as the deceased victim of an alleged killer still on the run from police.
Police are searching for this man, Anthony Lawrence, after a man and woman were allegedly attacked in Southburn, Yorkshire, last night
The man died in Hull Royal Infirmary this morning, while the woman is believed to have suffered serious, but not life-threatening injuries.
The dad-of-three had taken his pregnant partner to a house in the village of Southburn near Driffield, East Yorkshire, after a date on Friday, friends said.
But neighbours described her as ‘pouring with blood’ as she desperately sought help from nearby residents at around 9.20pm on Friday.
The incident is said to have revolved around an red-bricked property which is just a few metres away from a large farm house called Southburn House.
Neighbour Chris King, 25, a factory worker, said: ‘The woman who was attacked ran inside the big farmhouse at around 9.20pm last night and she was pouring with blood.
Neighbours claim a woman ‘pouring with blood’ ran for help after being attacked by an alleged ‘crossbow killer’ who broke into a property through a cellar and killed her boyfriend
‘He’d used a crossbow and other weapons to attack the couple after breaking into the property through their downstairs cellar.
‘The lady had blood pouring down her face. It was terrifying.
‘The woman was panicking and was scared.
‘I’m not sure of the circumstances which led to him being dead.
‘I believe he went up into the house through the cellar.
‘We didn’t hear any noise as crossbows don’t make a lot of sound so I didn’t hear anything – but the police helicopter has been going around all day.
‘We’re still on lockdown here in the village tonight and there are a lot of police, and armed police on foot.’
Friends said father-of-three Shane Gilmer had taken his pregnant partner to a house in the village of Southburn near Driffield, East Yorkshire
Mr King likened the heavy police presence at the locked-down village of Southburn to ‘just like Midsomer Murders’.
He added: ‘I never known a quieter village for something like this to happen in… It’s just like Midsomer Murders.
‘You have a lot of fields and hiding places in and around the village so the police are going to have a tough time finding him.
‘I can see that the police have now gone into the woods and they are searching there.’
East Riding of Yorkshire Councillor for the Southburn area, Felicity Temple, said: ‘We don’t know anything, but the police helicopter has been flying overhead.
‘I think it is possible that it is a domestic fight, so there is no danger to anyone else.
‘It is a terrible shame and I am very sorry it has happened and I just hope they can get the chap soon and the residents can go back to normal.
‘Obviously, my deep heart-felt sympathies go out to the family of those involved.’
A mile-long area of the small village in Driffield has been cordoned off by police, with the road blocked off unnamed
This morning police taped off a mile-long area of the village, which has about 20 houses in it.
The cordon is on an unnamed road running east of Thornton Lane at one end, and connected to Southburn Road at the other end.
A Humberside Police spokesperson added: ‘Our teams – including dog units and the police helicopter – are continuing to work to urgently trace the suspect and establish the circumstances of last night’s events.’
Lawrence is believed to be driving a dark blue Vauxuall Meriva, with blacked out rear windows and a poppy on the front grill. The registration number is FE07 SVP.
The public are urged not to approach him if they see him, but to dial 999 immediately.
After being approached for comment regarding his death, a member of Shane’s family said: ‘No comment.’