Residents of a Stockton estate have spoken of their shock at being woken to flashing lights and sirens in the middle of the night after a man was stabbed to death. 

A murder investigation was launched on Thursday (September 19) after a 26-year-old man died in a stabbing on the town's Hills Drive. 

Police erected a cordon across the street in the early hours of the morning, with a blue and white tent also being set up outside a property on the new-build estate. 

White-suited investigators were pictured with torches at the scene overnight, with yellow evidence markers also placed across a front garden of a home.

Several cordons were also set up on streets nearby, one surrounding an item in the road and another where residents reported that a weapon had been found. 

Crime scene investigators at the sceneCrime scene investigators at the scene (Image: Terry Blackburn)

Those living on Hills Drive and nearby streets have since told The Northern Echo of their shock, saying they stumbled upon the police activity while putting the bins out or taking their children to school on Thursday morning. 

One 47-year-old, who has lived in the area for three years, said: “I didn’t hear anything last night. I just saw it all on Facebook this morning at around 7am when I got up.

“I saw the police there when I was taking my little girl to school. It was a shock - I have been wondering about what has really happened. 

A cordon was erected across the streetA cordon was erected across the street (Image: Alex O'Leary)

“We have an estate group chat and someone put a photo in there saying there were police on our street. I’ve lived here for three years, this area is nice.”

One 36-year-old man, who lived on Hills Drive, said: “I just saw it this morning when I came out. I was up well past midnight and I didn’t notice anything happening.

“It was when I went for a jog this morning at about 6.30am and brought the bins out - there was a police van there. I’ve lived here since January, it’s nice and quiet.”

Several cordons were erected on the Stockton estateSeveral cordons were erected on the Stockton estate (Image: TERRY BLACKBURN)

Another woman, who has lived on the estate for three years and also wished to remain nameless, thought it may have been a medical incident initially. 

She said: “I just saw the police, it was at around 2am in the night. We were in bed and I just saw the flashing lights of the police cars and the ambulances.”

 

‘I’m not shocked - this is the normal now’

The Stockton estate was a hive of police activity during the morning, with at least three separate cordons and officers standing guard in several places. 

However, some residents said this wasn’t a shock to wake up to. 

“It doesn’t surprise me,” one 81-year-old man said, having lived in the area for around 40 years. “It’s terrible here.

An officer guarding a small cordon further down Hills DriveAn officer guarding a small cordon further down Hills Drive (Image: TERRY BLACKBURN)

“I didn’t see anything last night; it was just early this morning. It was about 6.15 a.m. when I saw the road cordoned off. 

“They said there’d been an incident near the shop and there was a tent up in the road.”

One mother, who has lived nearby for around 2 years, said: “I went on the school run at about 8am and I was walking and saw police officers and it all cordoned off.”

White-suited investigators at the scene overnightWhite-suited investigators at the scene overnight (Image: Terry Blackburn)

The 29-year-old added: “I didn’t hear anything last night. It’s not the nicest estate. I’m not really shocked - this is just the normal now.”

Another unnamed resident said: “”I only found out when my husband got up at 7.30am and saw the cop car. That’s when I knew something had gone on.

“I’ve been here for 10 years. Do I want to get off? Yes. But it has quietened down since all the raids.”
 

Full police statement 

Cleveland Police said: “A murder investigation has been launched in Stockton following an incident shortly after 12am today, Thursday 19 September 2024.

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“The incident happened outside a property in Hills Drive, when a 26-year-old man was stabbed and sadly died at the scene.

“Officers will remain at the scene as they work to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident.

“Anyone who witnessed the incident is asked to contact police by dialling 101, quoting reference number 180509.”