Four more people have been arrested following the tragic shooting of a mum-of-four who was gunned down on her doorstep in what police believe may have been a case of mistaken identity.
Joanne Penney, 40, was shot at point-blank range after unknowingly opening the door to her killer at a block of flats on Green Park, Talbot Green, Rhondda Cynon Taf, on Sunday evening.
Police confirmed the arrests of a 21-year-old woman, a 27-year-old man, a 68-year-old man, and a 39-year-old woman in connection with the murder. All four have been remanded in custody as investigations continue.
It follows the arrest of a 42-year-old local man on Sunday night, just hours after the fatal shooting. Officers say the inquiry remains ongoing, with detectives working around the clock to piece together the events that led to the killing.
Detective Chief Superintendent Ceri Hughes said: "While these arrests are a significant development, the investigation into Joanne’s death is continuing. We have a team of experienced detectives and specialist staff working hard to establish the circumstances of this terrible incident."
Police have also revealed that two vehicles — a beige Nissan Note and a black Volvo XC40 — travelled from the Leicester area to South Wales sometime after 10:30am on March 9. The cars were later seized and are now undergoing forensic examination.
"We need information about the movement of these vehicles and their occupants," DCS Hughes added. "We are particularly appealing for dashcam footage, especially from commercial vehicles, from Sunday. CCTV or dashcam recordings around Llys Illtyd and the nearby retail park between 5:30pm and 6:30pm may be crucial."
Armed officers responded to the shooting at around 6:10pm on Sunday, but Joanne — affectionately known as "Jo" — was pronounced dead at the scene from catastrophic gunshot injuries.
Crime scenes remain in place across the estate as forensic teams and detectives continue gathering evidence.
Joanne had recently moved to the area to stay with a friend, neighbours said. Many now believe she was killed in a horrifying case of mistaken identity.
"She seemed like a nice woman, fairly quiet," said one neighbour. "It’s terrifying to think someone could just knock on your door and shoot you like that."
A Close friend paid tribute, describing Joanne as a "bubbly character" who was popular in the community. "We will miss her dearly. I’ll be going down to lay flowers shortly," she said.
Another residentwho asked not to be named who lives just two doors away, said he heard the gunshot while preparing a bottle for his baby. "It’s terrifying, especially with a baby in the house. It really shakes you up."
South Wales Police are urging anyone with information to come forward as the murder investigation continues. Officers are carrying out door-to-door inquiries and reviewing CCTV footage from the surrounding area.
Anyone with information is urged to contact South Wales Police or Crimestoppers anonymously.
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