Stanley, England — A second suspect has been arrested in connection with the fatal shooting of a grandfather in County Durham. Thomas Lee Sterling, 21, from Stanley, faces charges of murder following the death of Barry Dawson, who was killed in his home over the weekend, local authorities reported.
Dawson, described by neighbors as a devoted grandfather, tragically lost his life on Saturday afternoon when he was shot through a front window of his terraced house on Elm Street. The arrest of Sterling on Wednesday evening adds a new layer to the ongoing investigation into the unsettling episode.
Upon his arrest, Sterling was brought before Peterlee Magistrates’ Court where he was held in custody without entering a plea. He is scheduled to appear at Teesside Crown Court on Monday for further proceedings.
This arrest comes shortly after another local, 38-year-old Kevin Dorward of Annfield Plain, was charged with Dawson’s murder earlier in the week. Additionally, Michaela Hetherington, 35, also from Annfield Plain, has been charged with perverting the course of justice in relation to the case.
The police force’s commitment to resolving this case saw further developments with the surrender of a 47-year-old man on Thursday, following a call for his apprehension in connection with Dawson’s death. He has been arrested on suspicion of murder.
Additionally, two others—a 49-year-old woman and a 20-year-old man—were arrested on Wednesday on suspicion of assisting an offender. They have since been released on bail pending further inquiries.
Dawson’s death has shocked the community of Stanley, where incidents of this nature are rare. Local residents have expressed their sorrow and confusion over the violent act that disrupted the peace of their neighborhood.
As the investigation progresses, law enforcement is urging anyone with information to come forward, hoping to piece together the events that led to this tragic loss of life. The community, meanwhile, remains in mourning as they await answers in the hope that justice will be served for Barry Dawson.