'RIP Bamber': Family pay tribute to John Donaldson as man arrested on suspicion of murder

A family has paid to tribute to a "much-loved son, brother, uncle, grandson and nephew" as a man was arrested on suspicion of murder.

Cleveland Police has now named the victim of a murder in the Lealholm Walk area as 34-year-old John Donaldson. Emergency services flooded the Grangetown and Whale Hill area following the incident at 9.00pm on Thursday, November 21.

John 'Bamber' Donaldson sadly died at James Cook University Hospital. His family has now released a tribute through the force.

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A statement said: “John ‘Bamber’ Donaldson was a very much-loved son, brother, uncle, grandson and nephew. Please allow family to grieve his loss in these traumatic times. RIP ‘Bamber’.”

It was confirmed that a 38-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of his murder and remains in police custody.

As reported, a murder investigation was launched following an incident outside a house in Lealholm Walk, a strip of houses off Birchington Avenue in the Whale Hill and Grangetown area. Police and paramedics were called to the scene at about 9pm on Thursday and the victim was treated before being transported to hospital where he sadly died.

Throughout Friday, forensic officers could be seen removing items from the path on Birchington Avenue, near Lealholm Walk, and placing them into orange plastic bags. One woman living across the road said she heard shouting on the street before the arrival of the emergency services.

Police, ambulance and the Great North East Ambulance Service attended the scene and eyewitnesses reported seeing paramedics erecting sheeting as they treated a man.

One resident said on Friday: “I heard the commotion and saw the flashing lights through the blinds." Another woman speaking at the nearby Whale Hill shops said: "It’s just really sad".

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