Essex murder inquiry will go on despite death of suspect

Essex Chief Constable Jim Barker-McCardle said it was vital investigations continued to establish what led to the double shootings which left PC Ian Dibell dead and another man, named locally as 48 year old Trevor Marshall, injured.

Peter Reeve, who was 64, is believed to have shot dead PC Ian Dibell in Clacton on Sea on Monday afternoon when the PC tried to intervene in a dispute. Reeve’s body was found in a churchyard near Chelmsford, Essex.

Earlier, Mr Barker-McCardle said: “I can confirm Peter Reeve, the man wanted for the murder of a serving police officer, was found dead, with a weapon in a Writtle churchyard and no shots were fired by the police.”

The chief constable said a number of lines of inquiry were being pursued as to the motive. He added: “There must have been some sort of catalyst that prompted the scale of a tragedy of this kind.”

He said a handgun had been used in the attack and Mr Reeve, who was “largely unknown to police”, did not hold a firearms licence.

Devastating

PC Dibbel’s chief constable said he had been a “brave neighbourhood officer”.

Paul McKeever, chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales, also paid tribute to PC Dibell, saying: “This is extremely tragic and devastating news. Police Constable Ian Dibell demonstrated remarkable courage and bravery whilst off-duty and has paid the ultimate price.”

Meanwhile, Prime Minister David Cameron has paid tribute to PC Dibell. Speaking in Downing Street during a press conference with French President Francois Hollande, he said: “It is the first time I have been able to comment on the very sad death of police constable Ian Dibell, who was killed yesterday in Essex.

“He was off-duty but went to help people in a totally selfless and typical way that our police officers do all of the time.

“It’s a reminder of the immense debt that we owe them and what they do on our behalf and I just want to pay tribute to him and say that the whole country, I’m sure, is thinking of his family and his friends at this difficult time.”