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Armed officers from Hampshire Police have been called to the property on the Anchorage Park estate in Portsmouth following reports of a firearm being used to injure a number of persons. Officers were scrambled to the £500,000 four-bed property on Holcot Lane just before 10am on Wednesday morning (14th September 2022). Paramedics from South Central Ambulance were also called to what officers have described as a tragic incident. A large cordon has been placed around the property owned by former jewellery shop manager Christopher Stone-Houghton. Shocked neighbours have made the claim that Houghton shot himself and a number of family members understood to be related to him and his partner, Ruth Stone-Houghton. The neighbour who asked not to be named said that they heard a number of loud bangs that sounded like gun shots. Specialist crime scene officers have been seen at the property and major crime detectives have been talking to local residents who have been left shell-shocked by the tragic events that have unfolded. A crime scene is likely to remain in place for some time whilst the fluid investigation is conducted. A spokesman for Hampshire Police said :

Detectives have launched a murder investigation following the death of a woman in Portsmouth.

Officers were called to an address on Holcot Lane at 10.27am on Wednesday 14 September.

On arrival, officers found the body of a 60-year-old woman.

The body of a 66-year-old man was also found inside the property.

At this stage police are treating this as an isolated incident and we would like to reassure the community that there is no wider risk. We are not looking for any further people in connection with this incident.

We will have a police presence at the address in the coming days and would like to thank residents for their patience as we deal with this incident.

Formal identification procedures are ongoing.

Specialist officers are supporting the family. More to follow