Joan Hoggett, 62 was murdered at the One Stop store on Sea Road in Sunderland on 6 September and a 19 year old has been arrested on suspicion of murder.
Local residents expressed sadness but also anger at the murder. More than 300 locals attended a meeting of Fulwell Partners and Communities Together meeting to respond to the incident. Local resident Aidan Angus commented: “This room full of people… have come together to put a stop to this recent crime wave and highlight the substandard efforts of both the police and the local council to protect what was once the most prominent safe place to live in our city.”
The death is the third this year to follow an incident of abuse against shop staff.
Police were called to the store at 10:41pm and found Hoggett with serious injuries that police said were “consistent with a stabbing”. The shop worker later died in hospital from her injuries.
A statement from One Stop released after the incident read: “We are shocked and saddened by the incident, our thoughts and deepest sympathies go out to our colleague’s family and friends at this difficult time.
“We are currently supporting all colleagues involved and assisting police with their enquiries. Due to the nature of the incident, we are unable to comment any further at this time.”
Residents described Hoggett to BBC News as “a nice lady, helpful, like all of them in that shop” and “a lovely lady, very sweet".
Superintendent Paul Milner from Northumbria Police said: “An investigation is ongoing to determine the full circumstances behind the incident. I would like to pass on my sincere condolences to the woman’s family, who are being supported by specialist officers at this time.”
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