Man in his 60s was taken to hospital but pronounced dead a short time later following botched burglary at house

A businessman in his 60s was shot and killed during a botched burglary at a home in Dorset involving at least two intruders, police have said. Murder detectives on Sunday night were hunting those behind the break-in, which resulted in the occupant of the house being shot dead in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Police were called at 3.03am to reports that intruders had entered a house in St Ives, east Dorset. One of the occupants, a man in his 60s, had been shot. He was taken to hospital, where he was pronounced dead a short time later. Police named the man on Sunday as Guy Hedger, 61.



A murder investigation has been launched by Dorset police’s major crime investigation team. The force said the man’s next of kin and the coroner had been notified. They said they believed the incident was an aggravated burglary, and said a second occupant of the house who saw the incident had been “deeply affected”.

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A spokesman for Dorset police said that a helicopter had been scrambled to the scene soon after 3am to help in the hunt for the gunman. It is understood that the crew used a thermal imaging camera to search for anyone acting suspiciously in the area.



Supt Kevin Connolly from Dorset police said: “At 3am we were called to a residential premises in Castlewood, which is a cul-de-sac in St Ives. We discovered a male in his 60s had been shot and he was taken to hospital but tragically died. We have since launched a murder inquiry are trying to reach anybody with any information to come forward to help us.

“We are treating this as an aggravated burglary which resulted in the shooting of a innocent man. There were at least two intruders. The offenders we believe went in to steal and then subsequently shot an innocent man. There was somebody else present at the time. They have been deeply affected by the circumstances and are being supported by a family liaison officer.

“I appeal to anybody with any information to come forward or if you were in the area at any time of the morning to come forward. We are working with ballistic experts. Upon the conclusion of their evaluation, we’ll know a lot more detail [about the firearm].

“There’s no reason [for residents] to be concerned. We are treating this as an isolated incident and will do our very best to catch the offenders and bring them to justice. We are conducting reassurance patrols to ensure people feel safe.”

It was understood Hedger was marketing director at Avonbourne International and Business and Enterprise Trust, which runs colleges and a primary school in the Bournemouth area.

Police said a second person in the property at the time was “deeply affected by the incident”. Hedger was listed as living at the property with Simon-Pierre Hedger-Cooper, the Press Association said, who was a voluntary sector worker who was reportedly his husband of 12 years.

Jean Yeates, 83, a neighbour, said: “It’s frightening to think that something like this could happen. I’ve never heard of anything happening here and I’ve lived here a fair while. I’m shocked.”



Anyone with information is asked to contact Dorset police via email at 101@dorset.pnn.police.uk or by calling 101, quoting incident number 30:53. Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 or via www.crimestoppers-uk.org.