Residents express shock after discovery of body of man with fatal gunshot wound in Sheffield wood
A police chief said: “We are continuing to work relentlessly to piece together the events leading up to this man's death”
Residents have spoken of their shock at the discovery that a man whose body was found in Sheffield woods had been shot.
A murder probe has now been launched.
The discovery of the body in Ecclesall Woods was initially as “unexplained” but was then escalated into a murder investigatiion after a gunshot wound was found.
A member of the public raised the alarm at around 6.45pm on Wednesday (September 2) saw police swiftly cordoned off huge stretches of the popular woodland, off Whirlowdale Road.
On Thursday morning, South Yorkshire Police said it was treating the death as “unexplained” and the force had yet to formally identify the body.
However, by Friday afternoon, officers revealed the death is now treating the death as a murder - with two people in custody after being arrested in Manchester.
A post-mortem examination led to the discovery of a fatal gunshot wound.
A woman, aged 34, and a man, aged 36, were both arrested on suspicion of murder on the day the body was found.
Detective Chied Inspector Andy Knowles said: "Our investigation into this incident is in its early stages and we are continuing to work relentlessly to piece together the events leading up to this man's death.
At the junction of Whirlowdale Road and Abbey Lane on Friday afternoon, an extensive police cordon covering dozens of entrances to the woods remained taped off.
The popular dog walking and running beauty spot is one of the most visited in Sheffield.
However, officers on guard in front of blue-and-white tape repeatedly turned away motorists and joggers.
In the distance down Whirlowdale Road, three police vans could be seen with officers coming and going from a north-facing footpath leading into the woods.
Ben Green, who frequently walks his dog through the woods and who grew up in the area said: "It is shocking that something like this could happen in such a peaceful and tranquil place which brings so much joy to so many people.
“I have spent most of my life in and around this area and have never known of anything like this to happen around here before.
“As awful a tragedy as it is I am sure it is just a one-off, isolated incident and it won't put me off visiting this beautiful ancient woodland."
Another resident from the area told The Star: “This is really shocking.
“It’s a popular wood for dog walkers, runners, children from nearby schools and local residents.
“We are very lucky and we don’t see a lot of crime here at all so it’s really shocking. I always thought it was so safe around here.”