Police want witnesses after reports of a gun fired in Grebe Drive on 4 November. A lower school locked down briefly. Three people ran from a car in Dunstable.

Bedfordshire Police is appealing for witnesses after reports that a gun was fired in Grebe Drive, Leighton Buzzard, on Wednesday afternoon.

Officers were called shortly before 3.30pm on 4 November to “reports of a firearms discharge”, the force said in a statement on Thursday.

A lower school close to the scene went into lockdown for a short period as a precaution. The force has not named the school.

What the police have said

According to the force’s statement:

  • specialist armed officers were sent to the area and quickly found a car believed to have been at the scene
  • the car was pursued along the A505 towards Dunstable
  • it stopped in Porz Avenue, Dunstable, after hitting an unrelated vehicle; that driver was treated at the scene for minor injuries
  • three people in the suspect car ran off on foot

Two ran towards the woodland near Nimbus Park, the force said. One of them was described as a black man with dreadlocks, wearing black clothing, white socks and black sliders. The third ran towards Lovett Way. Porz Avenue and Nimbus Park are in Dunstable and Houghton Regis, about seven miles east of Leighton Buzzard.

The statement does not say whether anyone was hurt in Grebe Drive, whether a weapon has been found, or whether anyone has been arrested.

Detective Inspector Stephanie Garfitt, of the force’s Crime Investigation Department, said: “This was a shocking incident; the safety of the public is always our highest priority and we are following several lines of enquiry to find those involved.”

She added: “This incident happened in close proximity to a lower school, and as a precaution, the school carried out its safety procedures as a matter of course. This understandably adds to the concerns within the local community and we will maintain a high visibility presence while our investigation continues.”

What it means for you

  • Expect more police around Grebe Drive. The force has said it will keep a high-visibility presence while the investigation goes on.
  • If you saw anything, or have footage, tell the police. That includes doorbell, dashcam or CCTV from Grebe Drive on Wednesday afternoon, or from the A505 and Porz Avenue in Dunstable. Use the force’s online reporting page or call 101. You can stay anonymous through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
  • In an emergency, call 999. Do not approach anyone you think may be involved.

A separate appeal: Plantation Road burglary

In a second statement the same day, the force asked for help with an aggravated burglary on Plantation Road, on the north side of the town.

Officers were called at about 6.45pm on Tuesday 27 October. Two men had got into a house through the back door and damaged kitchen appliances, a TV and windows, the force said.

Both men were described as white:

  • one was about 5ft 9in and dressed in black
  • the other was about 5ft 10in, in a white T-shirt and dark trousers, and was carrying what was believed to be a dark metal baton

PC Lewis Gray, who is investigating, said: “We are particularly interested if anyone has any CCTV, doorbell or dashcam at that time as this could help us with our enquiries.”

Information can be given online quoting reference 40/63273/26.

The force has not linked the two incidents.