A 16-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a man was fatally shot outside a petrol station in Essex. John Pordage, 34, died after being shot in the chest at a BP garage near the Army and Navy roundabout in Baddow Road, Chelmsford, at around 2.10am on Saturday.
Essex police said the victim was with a 25-year-old friend when they encountered a person known to them. An exchange of words escalated into a violent disturbance, during which Mr Pordage was shot. The teenage suspect, from Chelmsford, was detained on Sunday evening, hours after three others, including a 15-year-old boy, were held on suspicion of assisting an offender.
Mr Pordage's mother, Sue Wilson, paid tribute to her son, saying: “We are all so heartbroken. John was fun-loving and wore his heart on his sleeve. He was known for his big personality and friendly nature. He was a cheeky chap and had so much to look forward to. We loved him, everyone loved him. He had the biggest heart. We are going to miss him so very much. Words cannot describe the pain I am going through right now.”
Detectives initially believed the gunman was in a blue Ford Focus, but senior investigating officer DCI Stephen Jennings said the suspect was not in a vehicle at the time of the shooting. The car was used to flee the scene before police arrived. Officers have recovered the vehicle and searched a number of addresses.
DCI Jennings said: “My thoughts are with Mr Pordage’s family during this extremely difficult time and our inquiries are progressing into finding those responsible for his tragic death. We are continuing to keep an open mind about the motive behind this shocking incident. From our inquiries so far, we believe this was a chance meeting involving people known to each other.”
The four suspects, including a 22-year-old man from Chelmsford and an 18-year-old man from the Billericay area, remain in police custody for questioning. The road was closed for forensic examination and patrols in the area have been increased.
