Mistaken identity probe and four more arrests after woman shot dead

Police are investigating whether a 40-year-old woman who was shot dead in a block of flats was mistaken for someone else.

Joanne Penney was found seriously injured on Green Park in Talbot Green, Rhondda Cynon Taf, at about 18:10 GMT on Sunday and died at the scene.

A 42-year-old man from Talbot Green was arrested on suspicion of murder on Sunday and remains in police custody, and four more people were arrested in the Leicestershire Police force area in connection with the incident on Monday.

The four additional people travelled down to south Wales in two vehicles and left shortly after the incident, South Wales Police said.

A 21-year-old woman and man, 27, from Oadby, Leicestershire, a 68-year-old man from Braunstone Town, Leicestershire, and a 39-year-old woman from Leicester are currently in custody and will be questioned, police added.

They said that crime scenes remained in place as work continued to gather evidence following the shooting.

"The investigation has continued at pace, and we are working hard to establish a motive for Joanne's killing," Det Ch Supt Ceri Hughes said.

"We are exploring several lines of enquiry, including the possibility that she was the victim of mistaken identity."

She said investigations carried out so far had determined that two vehicles had travelled from the Leicester area some time after 10:30 GMT on Sunday to south Wales before leaving shortly after the incident took place.

Both vehicles, a distinctive beige Nissan Note and a black Volvo XC40 were seized following Monday night's arrests and will be subject to forensic examination, she said.

Residents expressed shock following the incident, which sparked a significant emergency services response.

Calum Williams, who lives just a few houses from the incident, said he heard the gunshot.

"It's terrible. I live just two doors down from where it happened. I was making a bottle for the baby and I heard a gunshot," he said.

"It's pretty frightening, especially with the baby."

Carolyn Pugh, who lives nearby, said she heard the police helicopter hovering.

She said: "You didn't know what was happening but you knew there was something bad.

"I've been here about 28 years and it was never like this."