South Yorkshire Police confirm NO link between fatal fire and murder in Mexborough

A man died in a blaze on Chaucer Road last night, with a property found to be engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived.

They were alerted to the fire at 7.25pm and a man was pronounced dead at the scene after being found outside.

A multi-agency investigation into the incident is under way this morning.

South Yorkshire Police has not yet released any details on the fatal fire but said it is not linked the murder of 20-year-old Lewis Williams in Mexborough on Monday afternoon.

Lewis was shot in his neck and face close to the Farmfoods store on Wath Road and despite the efforts of paramedics could not be revived and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Five people have been arrested so far as part of the investigation.

Two men, aged 23 and 20, and two boys, aged 16 and 17, are being held on suspicion of murder.

A 20-year-old man is being held on suspicion of assisting an offender.

South Yorkshire Police has warned of a large police presence in Mexborough in the wake of the shooting.

DCI James Axe, leading the investigation, said it was a ‘horrific incident’ and urged anyone with information or dash cam footage from vehicles in the area at the time to come forward.

Call South Yorkshire Police on 101 and quote incident number of 495 of January 11.