Reagan Asbury murder: Police continue to hunt teenager's killer
Police continue to hunt the murderer of 19-year-old Reagan Asbury who was fatally wounded after violent disorder flared at a boxing match.
Officers have viewed ‘a large amount’ of CCTV and have spoken to more than 100 people as part of the murder investigation, an inquest heard.
Reagan, from Pelsall, was stabbed in the neck and died a day later in hospital after the disorder broke out at Walsall Town Hall on October 14.
West Midlands Police Detective Sergeant John Garbett said: “Our enquiries into the murderer continue as we try to locate that person.”
Three men have been charged for violent disorder after the trouble took hold and have been sent for trial at court next year.
A further suspect has been charged in relation to assisting the offender, while one person remains on bail.
Giving evidence at Black Country Coroners’ Court, detective sergeant Garbett said: “So far, we have arrested three people for violent disorder. They have been charged and posted for trial next year.
“The incident involved a number of people from the Derby area, who were supporting a number of fighters at the boxing event. There are certainly further arrests planned in relation to a number of individuals. Those are for violent disorder to talk around the murder of Reagan.”
“Three people have also been arrested for assisting the offender. One remains on bail and the other who has had to be charged today when he offers bail.”
Reagan was described as happy and kind by family friends.
Tributes flooded in for the former-footballer, with among those former world boxing champion Ricky Hatton MBE sending his condolences to Reagan’s family.
He played centre-back for Pelsall United was a former student at Ormiston Shelfield Academy and a plumbing apprentice.
Reagan died at Queen Elizabeth Hospital on October 15. Police detectives are continuing to comb for evidence as they aim to track down the culprit who struck Reagan.
At a previous inquest hearing into the death, detective Inspector Justin Spanner, from West Midlands Police’s homicide team, said his killer was caught on camera striking him in the neck.
The culprit - identified on footage - was described as a black male with an afro type hair style and white t-shirt.
At the latest inquest hearing, detective sergeant Garbett outlining an update on the investigation, said: “We are currently in possession of a number of statements and we have spoken to 100-plus people.
“A great quantity of CCTV has been viewed but it is a continuing process. A number of forensic enquiries are continuing.
“There is a lot of police enquiries ongoing to bring people to justice.”
He revealed Reagan’s body has been released to his family after a second post-mortem.
Assistant coroner Laura Nash adjourned the inquest to January 23. She said: “I would suggest enquiries into the main offender simply need further time to complete those enquiries.”
