A 75-year-old man, who was found dead having suffered gunshot injuries has been named and pictured for the first time.
Thomas Olverson, 75, was pronounced dead at a farm on Pinfold Lane in Scarisbrick, Lancashire, after police were called shortly before 5pm on Thursday.
A 29-year-old man – said by police to be known to the victim – was arrested on suspicion of murder and remains in custody.
Detectives said they weren’t looking for anyone else in connection with what they described as an ‘isolated incident’.
‘This has sent shockwaves through the community,’ one local said today.
One neighbour alleged the shot farmer had been killed while sitting on his vintage tractor.
Thomas Olverson, 75, as found dead having suffered gunshot injuries at a farm on Pinfold Lane in Scarisbrick
A 29-year-old man – said by police to be known to the victim – was arrested on suspicion of murder and remains in custody
Marsh Hey Farm and a neighbouring converted barn were both under police guard yesterday.
An officer said both were being ‘treated as crime scenes.’
One neighbour who knows the family said: ‘It is incredibly sad. I have been told Tom was shot sat on his tractor.
‘It was an old machine, everything around the farm was old. I think they were struggling a bit. Farming is a very hard game these days.
‘I always thought Tom looked very downtrodden. He looked as if he was carrying the weight of the world around with him.
‘It is such a tragedy especially in a rural area like this. A real tragedy.’
Another described the family as ‘very reserved’.
‘We heard the air ambulance land somewhere near the farm,’ the neighbour said.
‘We don’t know much about the people who live there, they’re very closed off and keep themselves to themselves. It’s so sad.’
The farmhouse (pictured) was sealed off as police officers continued to investigate the area
Aerial view showing farmhouse (bottom left) and the tractor where a body was found (circled)
Police in the field scanning the scene in a Lancashire field
One local described them as ‘closed off, typical farmers’.
Officers swamped the area after receiving a report of a firearms discharge, Lancashire Police said yesterday morning.
An air ambulance was seen landing in a nearby field, but despite the best efforts of the emergency services, teh 75-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene.
A shotgun was recovered from the scene, with forensics teams in white suits seen combing the field today.
Det Chief Insp Andy Fallows, of Lancashire Police Force’s Major Investigation Team, said: ‘A man has very sadly lost his life as a result of this, and we have a dedicated team of officers working to establish what led to his death.
‘We know that this news may sound concerning to the Scarisbrick community, but we want to reassure everyone that it is being treated as an isolated incident.
olice and scientific support officers were at the scene yesterday a shotgun has since been recovered
The 29-year-old man is also from Scarisbrick and is also said to be known to the victim, according to police
‘Both parties are known to each other, and we aren’t looking for anyone else in connection with this incident.
‘This is where I now appeal to you, the public, to ask that if you have any information, saw or heard anything suspicious or have dashcam footage from the Pinfold Lane area of Scarisbrick yesterday between 12pm and 5:30pm, to please get in contact.’
A 29-year-old man from Scarisbrick has been arrested on suspicion of murder and remains in custody.
Police have requested for anyone with information to contact them by calling 101, and quoting 1030 of July 25, 2024.
