A woman killed in a grenade attack in Bristol died a hero after sending a child to play outside moments before the blast, neighbours have revealed. Joanne Shaw, 35, was fatally injured when her former partner Ryan Kelly, 41, allegedly detonated a grenade at her home in the Frenchay area on Sunday morning.
Neighbour Stuart Blanchard said the child was on a trampoline in the garden when the explosion occurred at around 6.30am. “She probably told the child to go out there to get out of the way of them arguing,” he said. “I was woken to her shouting ‘go away, go away’ and then there was this loud boom that shook my door and windows.”
Avon and Somerset Police confirmed that Joanne and Ryan Kelly both died in the blast. The force said the couple had a history of domestic incidents and has referred itself to the police watchdog. Three other people, including a child, suffered minor injuries.
Kelly had a previous conviction for conspiracy to supply cocaine as part of a crystal meth gang, a case compared to the TV show Breaking Bad. He was jailed for five years in 2015. Neighbours described Joanne as a “lovely woman” who had moved to her parents’ home to escape Kelly.
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.” Specially-trained officers are supporting the family.
