Four found dead in house in Peterlee

The dead man, named locally as Michael Atherton, is believed to have carried out the shootings and to have been a licensed holder of firearms.

The bodies of the 40-year-old man and the three women were found near one anoher in the semi-detached house in Greenside Avenue, Peterlee. They were related and police are not looking for anyone else as part of their inquiry.

Escape

Police said on Monday that a teenage woman who suffered minor injuries escaped through an upstairs window, and there were other people in the house at the time who also survived, including a man who was initially arrested, but later released without charge.

Officers were called after shots were fired shortly before 11.45 on Sunday night. Durham Assistant Chief Constable Michael Banks said: “Our information within those numerous messages was that several people had been shot.

Gunshot wounds

“The police were dispatched to the scene and shortly after midnight, as our officers entered the house, it was discovered that a man and three women were dead in the house. It is our belief at this stage that they died of gunshot wounds.”

Mr Banks said the 40-year-old man who had been found dead “may be a member of a gun club”.

Senior investigating officer, Detective Superintendent Paul Goundry, said other people in the house at the time were being interviewed. He said the man who was initially arrested and then released was being treated as a significant witness.

Mr Goundry added: “I’m keeping an open mind, but I do believe at this point that it’s the 40-year-old (who was the gunman). I need to know exactly what has gone on inside the house and that will take the rest of today and tomorrow to complete all the inquiries with potential witnesses.”