A 47-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder
10:42, 21 Jun 2025Updated 10:51, 21 Jun 2025
Police working inside the cordon on Stanley Road where a woman was stabbed to death
Neighbours have described their shock after a woman was fatally stabbed inside a local shop in Bootle. Merseyside Police were called to Stanley Road, near the junction with Wadham Road, shortly after 5.05pm last night, June 20, to reports of a domestic incident.
It had been reported a 44-year-old woman had sustained a stab wound to her torso after an assault inside Low Cost Food and Wine. Police attended the scene where they detained a man and seized a knife.
The woman was taken to hospital in a critical condition where she died a short time later. Her next of kin have been informed and are being supported by officers, police said.
When the ECHO arrived at the scene, an extensive cordon had been put in place across the main road, with more than 10 emergency service vehicles in attendance.
Scientific support officers could be seen working inside in the cordoned off portion of road as police continue to investigate. Staff members at several takeaways could be seen bringing food orders to residents waiting at the cordon.
One neighbour described how she “knew something had happened” after seeing a bus drive down her street. She said: “I heard a load of sirens and then I saw a bus coming down the road, and then another one.
“Buses don’t come down this road. I needed to go to the shop to get milk but it was all cordoned off so I had to go to the one on the other side. I can’t believe it, I’m in shock to be honest.
“I shop there all the time. My grandson is a stubborn eater so I always go there to buy his cheese and onion fries and milk. She’s a lovely woman. She’s always friendly when I’ve been in there. If I tell her she doesn’t have something in, she’ll go out of her way to get what I need in.”
Another resident said: “I was looking out the window and I saw a bus coming past. I thought, ‘what’s a bus doing coming down the road?’ Next minute I saw a police car down there [Stanley Road], and then I saw another police car and an ambulance going past.
“It’s really sad. I was only in there a few days ago. They’ve been in that place a while. You just get to know their faces and they get to know you. It’s hard going when it’s right on your doorstep.”
A 47-year-old man from Widnes was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and possession of a bladed article in a public place, and taken into custody for questioning. He has now additionally been arrested on suspicion of murder.
On Facebook, one person described the deceased as “a lovely woman,” adding: “Always smiling and very kind to me and my kids. Spoke to her almost every day as we shopped in her shop a lot. She has small children. Absolutely heartbreaking.”
There was a large number of emergency services on Stanley Road
Another said: “Always polite and asking her customers how they were , and just general chit chat. Thinking of her family at this sad time”.
An investigation is now underway, and police are appealing for anyone with information to get in touch.
Detective Inspector Gavin Mulcahy said: “I know the circumstances of this incident will come as a huge shock and cause significant distress to people living locally.
“We are in the very early stages of our investigation but this is currently being treated as a domestic assault in which the suspect and victim knew each other.
“Every single report of domestic abuse is treated extremely seriously by Merseyside Police, and our detectives have launched an extensive investigation into this assault. Officers deployed to the scene made a swift arrest, and we are not looking for anyone else in connection with this incident.
“Detectives are speaking to witnesses at the scene and exploring CCTV and doorbell footage opportunities and I would appeal to anyone with information or footage to get in touch.”
Anyone with information on this incident should contact Merseyside Police social media desk via X @MerPolCC or on Facebook ‘Merseyside Police Contact Centre’. You can also report information via the website: https://www.merseyside.police.uk/ro/report/ocr/af/how-to-report-a-crime/ or call 101 quoting incident reference 25000507041.Alternatively, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, or via their website here: https://crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information/forms/give-information-anonymously.