Boscombe murder probe: "Victim was member of notorious Harlesden gang"

The Echo understands the victim – named on social media as Reece, aka Stylie, a 20-year-old from North London - was shot in the face.

He is said to have been a member of the Church Road Soldiers, one of London's most notorious gangs.

A 22-year-old man has been arrested in connection with this incident and is helping Dorset Police with their enquiries.

Follow our live blog for the latest update from Dorset Police on the arrest

A man arriving at the scene in Roumelia Lane yesterday told the Daily Echo: “The guy died in my arms.”

He was driven away in tears by police officers.

Officers were called at 2.26am yesterday after reports that a man had been seriously injured at the flats. On arrival they found the body of a man, who has not yet been formally identified.

He had gunshot wounds.

A wide cordon was put in place while crime scene investigators combed the scene yesterday.

Twelve hours after the incident, police chiefs reassured members of the public that there is “no immediate concern for the safety of the community”.

No arrests have been made.

A source said the victim was from the Brent area of London.

To add to the drama, Bournemouth train station and nearby Texaco petrol station was shut during lunchtime as armed police dealt with an incident related to the death.

Detective Chief Inspector Kevin Connolly, of Dorset Police’s Major Crime Team, said yesterday: “We have launched a murder investigation. As a result, members of the public may have noticed increased police activity in Bournemouth as local officers, including firearms officers, searched the area.

“I would urge any witnesses and anyone with information to contact Dorset Police as soon as possible.

“I am especially keen to speak with anyone who saw anything suspicious or unusual in the area of Windsor Road, Roumelia Lane, Cecil Road and Sea Road between midnight and 4am Wednesday morning.

“I would like to reassure members of the public that an extensive investigation is ongoing and there is no immediate concern for the safety of the community.”

Anyone with information should call 101, quoting incident number 25:46.

The man’s next of kin and the coroner have been notified but no formal identification has taken place.

Two traders told the Echo they heard loud noises from the flat around midnight.

One said: “There was lots of shouting and screaming coming the flat and I called the police around midnight.

“They said it might be people coming home from the pub.”

Another trader said he knew young men from London regularly visited the flats.

The incident is thought to be drugs related and comes just a day after officers from Dorset Police’s Operation Dismantle team carried out a drugs raid at an address in nearby Cecil Road at the junction of Horace Road in Boscombe.

Three men were arrested and were yesterday said to be assisting police with their enquiries. A quantity of class A and class B drugs were recovered along with a quantity of cash following a tip-off from the community.