A MURDER investigation is underway after a young Rugby man was shot in the head and left in a car by the roadside, in what police described as a “targeted incident”.
The body of Jordan Matthew Banton, 23, was found in Newton Road between Newton village and Newton Manor Lane at around 11.40am on Friday (July 25).
A post-mortem revealed he died of a shotgun wound to the head.
Emergency services were called at around 11.45am after one car left the road while another, a silver/blue Vauxhall Insignia, was seen speeding away along Newton Road through Newton and towards the A5.
The culprit is believed to have escaped in the Vauxhall, which was found in Hillmorton just after 7pm on Sunday (July 27).
Newton Road was cordoned off by police between Newton village and Newton Manor Lane throughout the weekend, as officers searched the area and made door-to-door enquiries.
Four arrests have been made.
A 19 year old man from the Rugby area was arrested for murder late on Saturday night, and remains in police custody.
On Friday, a female was arrested and later released with no further action being taken, while a man in his 30s was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder and was released on bail on Saturday.
Another man in his 30s was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder on Saturday, and was bailed pending further enquiries.
Superintendent Adrian McGee, who is leading the murder investigation, said: “This is a murder of a young man on a remote rural road.
“I would like to reassure the local community that we believe this to be a targeted incident.
“The (Vauxhall) vehicle will now be forensically examined and we hope will provide another piece in the jigsaw towards understanding exactly how Jordan Banton was killed.”
Mr Banton’s family have been kept fully updated about the ongoing investigation, while receiving support from specially trained officers.
Police are continuing to follow a number of lines of enquiry and a number of warrants are currently being executed in the Rugby area.
Anyone who has any information to assist is asked to contact police on telephone 101 quoting incident number 155 of the 25 July 2014.
If anyone wishes to speak to the police in confidence this can be arranged. Information can also be provided anonymously via independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
