‘Grenade’ home explosion that killed girl and ex-partner declared ‘murder’
Police have said they a treating an explosion at a house in Bristol as a homicide as Avon and Somerset Police said a referral would be made to the Independent Office for Police Conduct
Police at the scene of the ‘suspicious’ explosion in Bristol (Image: Ben Birchall/PA Wire)
The death of a woman who was killed in an explosion alongside a man at her home is being treated as a homicide, police said.
Jo Shaw, 35, was killed in the blast at the house in Bristol on Sunday morning, which also saw her former partner Ryan Kelly, 41, suffer fatal injuries. Avon and Somerset Police said a referral would be made to the Independent Office for Police Conduct due to previously reported domestic-related incidents.
Kelly reportedly went round to the parent’s house of his former partner Jo and detonated a grenade. He has been identified as an ex-drug gang member. He and Jo were killed following the house explosion at a property in in Sterncourt Road, Frenchay, Bristol, as police continue to investigate the ‘suspicious’ explosion.
The male killed in the incident has been named locally as Ryan Kelly, who was previously convicted for being a foot soldier in a drugs gang. The female victim has also been identified as his ex-partner Joanne Shaw, who died tragically died in the blast that saw three others also injured.
Kelly was previously a foot soldier in a Breaking Bad crystal meth gang. He was jailed for five years in 2015 for his role in the operation that was likened to the hit TV series.
It was compared to the show due to the mastermind being 78-year-old George Roberts from Bristol, who was battling cancer.
The then 30-year-old, of Speedwell Road, Bristol, admitted conspiracy to supply cocaine at a previous hearing before a trial. The operation was busted after undercover police bugged their cars.
Three other people, including a child, suffered minor injuries during the incident at a house in Sterncourt Road. Superintendent Matt Ebbs said: “Jo’s death has been officially recorded as a homicide based on the information known to us at this time. We are not looking for anyone else in connection with her death.
“We would like to reassure the public there is not believed to be any wider risk to safety and this is not being treated as terrorism-related. As previously stated, we believe the cause of the explosion to be deliberate. Analysis work of the explosive device has not yet been completed.”
Superintendent Matt Ebbs revealed at a previous police press briefing that officers were called to a “domestic incident” at 6.17am. However, before they could reach the location, an explosion occurred at 6.30am.
In a statement issued on Sunday afternoon, Superintendent Matt Ebbs said: “A cordon was put in place to protect the public and to allow inquiries to be carried out at the scene.
“This included specialist searches carried out by the British Army’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal, as a precaution. People living within the cordon were evacuated to a temporary rest centre, and we want to thank them for their ongoing cooperation and understanding.
“We fully recognise how disruptive this has been for them, and to manage expectations, we think the cordon will remain in place until at least the evening, and we’ll continue to provide updates where we can.
“Public safety will always be our priority and we’ll reduce the cordon as soon as it’s safe for people to return to their homes.”
Armed officers were seen and locals were relocated to an emergency “temporary rest centre” at the nearby Snuff Mill Harvester pub.
Residents in the vicinity reported hearing a loud “bang” early in the morning, followed by smoke billowing from one of the houses.
Avon and Somerset Police set up a white tent at the scene, while the cordon was later extended to encompass the corner of Froomshaw Road.
One local, who has since been moved to the Harvester pub, mentioned he heard a loud “bang” around 6.30am and went outside, but was instructed to “get inside” by armed officers. He added that neighbours observed smoke emanating from one of the houses.
