A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a woman in her 40s died following a shooting at a house in Barham.

East Anglian Daily Times: A woman in her 40s who died following a shooting in Barham has been named locally as Silke Hartshorne-Jones Picture: SARAH LUCY BROWNA woman in her 40s who died following a shooting in Barham has been named locally as Silke Hartshorne-Jones Picture: SARAH LUCY BROWN (Image: Archant)

A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a woman in her 40s died following a shooting at a house in Barham.

East Anglian Daily Times: Uniformed police officers and forensics attend the scene of a shooting at a house in Barham Picture: SARAH LUCY BROWNUniformed police officers and forensics attend the scene of a shooting at a house in Barham Picture: SARAH LUCY BROWN (Image: Archant)

Police were called shortly before 4.45am on Sunday, May 3, to reports a woman had been shot within a property in the village of Barham, near Ipswich.

East Anglian Daily Times: Uniformed police officers and forensics attend the scene of a shooting at a house in Barham Picture: SARAH LUCY BROWNUniformed police officers and forensics attend the scene of a shooting at a house in Barham Picture: SARAH LUCY BROWN (Image: Archant)

On arrival at the premises, officers discovered a woman, aged in her 40s, had suffered serious injuries.

East Anglian Daily Times: Uniformed police officers and forensics attend the scene of a shooting at a house in Barham Picture: SARAH LUCY BROWNUniformed police officers and forensics attend the scene of a shooting at a house in Barham Picture: SARAH LUCY BROWN (Image: Archant)

She was taken to Ipswich Hospital by ambulance in a critical condition, and sadly died a short time later.

East Anglian Daily Times: Uniformed police officers and forensics attend the scene of a shooting at a house in Barham Picture: SARAH LUCY BROWNUniformed police officers and forensics attend the scene of a shooting at a house in Barham Picture: SARAH LUCY BROWN (Image: Archant)

A 51-year-old man was subsequently arrested on suspicion of murder and was taken to Bury St Edmunds Police Investigation Centre for questioning.

East Anglian Daily Times: A police cordon is in place at the scene of a shooting in Barham where a woman in her 40s has died Picture: SARAH LUCY BROWNA police cordon is in place at the scene of a shooting in Barham where a woman in her 40s has died Picture: SARAH LUCY BROWN (Image: Archant)

A police cordon was still in place at the rural property on Sunday evening with officers standing guard outside the home while investigations were carried out.

A number of vehicles, including those belonging to forensics, were also at the seen with evidence bags reportedly seen being loaded into police cars.

Stephen Carr, chairman of Barham Parish Council, said he was totally shocked by the news of the woman’s death.

“It’s a very quiet place,” said Mr Carr.

“We were totally surprised. It’s not normal in Barham.”

Mr Carr said that the part of the village where the house is located is a particularly close knit area.

He said that news of the woman’s death would come as a real shock to the community there.

John Whitehead, ward member for Claydon and Barham at Mid Suffolk District Council, said he was surprised by what had happened.

“It’s a total shock,” said Mr Whitehead.

Anyone with any information about the incident should contact Suffolk police’s South CID on 101 quoting crime reference number 37/24434/20.

Information can also be submitted on Suffolk police’s online form.

Alternatively, those with information can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers 100% anonymously on 0800 555 111.

You can also contact them via their online form.