Tributes are being paid to 24-year-old carer who ‘always had a smile on his face,’ after he was stabbed to death near a train station in Crawley as schoolgirl, 14, is arrested on suspicion of murder.
Police and paramedics, including an air ambulance doctor, rushed out to Russell Way near Three Bridges train station, at around 9pm on Tuesday night where the victim was found seriously injured in the street and later pronounced dead.
Friends today have named the victim as Nimroy Hendricks, who worked as a carer looking after elderly people with mental health issues according to friends.
He was described as a ‘very, very nice guy who worked as a carer in mental health’.
Last night Sussex Police revealed they had arrested a 14-year-old girl, from Crawley, on suspicion of murder. Officers had previously said the victim and suspect knew each other.
A 21-year-old man from London was arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender.
Armed police carried out a search around Crawley on Tuesday night after a 24-year-old man was stabbed to death. A 14-year-old girl has now been arrested on suspicion of murder
The murder victim has today been named as Nimroy Hendricks, 24, friends described the mental health carer as a ‘very, very nice guy who worked as a carer in mental health
The victim was found dying outside an address in Russell Way, Crawley. Despite the efforts of an air ambulance doctor and paramedics, the 24-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene
It is not clear exactly where the victim was murdered at this stage but remnants of police tape remain at either end of the Tilgate Drive Cycle Path at the end of Russell Way.
Sutherland Quarters was also cordoned off with blood stains pictured on the road.
The concrete converted office space social housing apartment block is situated off a roundabout.
IT analyst Mr Micallef, who moved in to the block in February shortly after Mr Hendricks’ partner arrived from Birmingham, said his neighbour was ‘the calm in the chaos’.
Mr Micallef was at home when he realised something was not right after hearing panicked voices outside.
He said: ‘I heard people coming in [to the apartment block] and saying ‘he’s on the floor. I think he’s dead.’
‘I looked out the window and saw people running up outside towards the alleyway. Then they ran back.
‘The police turned up about five minutes later but in that time he was on his own. No one stayed with him.’
Another friend, builders’ merchant Aaron Evans, 37, who also lives in the apartment block, said: ‘This time last week I was chilling with Roy.
‘He was my friend. I spoke to him last Thursday and it seemed something wasn’t right.
‘I just wish I pried more into his business as maybe I could have done something to stop it.
‘When he was killed, I heard a lot of young kids outside my door and one said “he ain’t moving, call the police”. They then ran off.’
One neighbour said they heard ‘a lot of young kids outside my door and one said “he ain’t moving, call the police”‘
Police have made two arrests since the murder on Tuesday night. A 14-year-old girl and 21-year-old man have both been taken into police custody
Another man who lives in the apartment block and gave his name as Rhys said Mr Hendricks was a ‘very, very nice guy who worked as a carer in mental health’.
He added: ‘I knew him for a short while and for a young 24-year-old he went too soon.’
Speaking about Nimroy, Mr Micallef added: ‘He had a big smile and was a carer who worked looking after elderly people.
‘Whenever you would talk to him he was just so calm all the time with a big smile on his face.
‘He was the nicest guy you’d ever meet.
‘Any problems, you didn’t have to worry – he would always find the solution. He was the calm in the chaos.
‘I’m shocked to be honest. Nimroy had so many plans. He didn’t deserve to die, he was the one who should have lived.
‘He had his driving license going and was investing in gold. He was investing in his family.
Armed officers from Sussex Police arrived at the scene as they searched for a suspected killer
‘I’m trying not to think about it too much as it hasn’t really sank in.’
A friend who wanted to remain unnamed said earlier: ‘I thought he was a brilliant guy. Very calm and chilled out.
‘He was relaxing to be around and he didn’t have a bad word to say about anybody.
‘I came in from work at 8pm and saw all the emergency services an hour later. It was very out of the ordinary.
‘It sounds like a domestic. I don’t know what has gone on but it is really sad that he has lost his life.’
Helicopters were heard circling over Crawley on Tuesday as police searched for a murder suspect
Detectives at Sussex Police say the girl, who cannot be named due to her age, is believed to have known Mr Hendricks.
Armed police were out with local officers and forensic teams near the Skyfall apartments at around 9pm on Tuesday.
Officers had cordoned off part of the street as they carried out investigations into the night.
Helicopters were reportedly heard circling overhead in the town following the attack.
A Sussex Police spokesman said: ‘Police investigating the murder of a man in Three Bridges, Crawley, on Tuesday evening (October 27) have arrested a teenage girl.
‘Emergency services were called to Russell Way at 9pm where they found the 24-year-old victim seriously injured. He was treated by paramedics and an air ambulance doctor, but despite the specialist care provided was sadly declared dead at the scene.
‘A 14-year-old girl from Crawley was arrested in south London around 10.20pm on Wednesday (October 28) on suspicion of murder.
‘A 21-year-old man from London was also arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender.
‘Anyone with information about the incident is asked to report online or call 101 quoting Operation Parkhead.’
There was a large police presence following the attack, as police descended on Russell Way
Sussex Police confirmed it had launched a murder investigation after the 24-year-old was stabbed to death. A 21-year-old man from London was arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender
Anyone with information has been asked to call Sussex Police on 101 and refer to Operation Parkhead
Officers were called out to a stabbing at an address in Russell Way on Tuesday evening