Page last updated at 14:39 GMT, Wednesday, 12 November 2008

Concern after 'terrible' shooting

Scene of shooting in Derby
The teenager died in a shooting next to a local park

Some residents in a Derby estate where a 15-year-old boy was shot and killed say they feel "fearful" at night and called for more police presence.

Kadeem Blackwood, 15, died in hospital after being shot in the chest outside a park in the Sunnyhill area.

A 19-year-old man was later arrested several blocks away on suspicion of murder, Derbyshire Police said.

The teenager was shot dead as he walked along Caxton Street with friends on Tuesday evening.

Police said they were doing everything possible to reassure local residents in the Austin estate.

Assistant Chief Constable Peter Goodman, of Derbyshire Police said: "This is a major incident; fatal shootings are not commonplace in the city of Derby." And he said the shooting was "an isolated incident".

"We are determined to provide a presence here to reassure the local community that we will do all we can to protect them."

I think it is terrible that some poor mother has been told that her son has been shot
Sandra Jones, Sunnyhill resident

Resident Lynn Powner, who spoke to BBC News as she walked her two dogs near the area, said: "I got home from work last night and the helicopter was hovering in the area - I knew something had happened.

"I have never had any problems - it is a nice community, just the odd few that give it a bad name.

"It did worry me this morning when I did hear it - it is getting closer and closer to home. We have heard a lot about Nottingham but when it comes close to your doorstep you do get a bit worried."

Sandra Jones
Mrs Jones said she sometimes feels "a little fearful"

One young woman who did not want to be named said she was frightened and did not really want to go out at night.

Local resident Sandra Jones, 51, said: "I think it is terrible that some poor mother has been told that her son has been shot. There was an incident not long ago just outside my house and police were called when someone with a knife was chasing someone down the street.

"They always seem to come out around nine o'clock and go roaming around. I don't feel safe going out when it is dark anyway. You just feel a bit fearful."

She called for more police on the beat, especially at night in the neighbourhood.

Sarah, a local mother of two who lives on Claxton Street, said: "It is scary. You wouldn't think something like this would happen here [would] you? It is not too bad to be honest."

Ronald Mills, 79, who has lived in area since 1993, said "I thought it was improving until this morning... It has been a bad area [and] was getting better, but it looks likes it is going back to worse now."

He said a police presence was taken away and replaced by a council one-stop shop.

William Woodward, 60, of Claxton Street, said young teenagers "walk up and down the streets all night".

"I heard some shouts and people running last night but we didn't go out. You hear it like that almost every night."

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SEE ALSO
Man arrested over shooting death
12 Nov 08 |  Derbyshire

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