Overview
- A 55-year-old Southampton man was arrested on suspicion of murder on Tuesday, July 14, and has been released on police bail until October 6, 2026.
- Richard 'Ricky' Haywood, 36, was found shot multiple times in his flat above Ambiance Jewellers on October 16, 1989, in what investigators have long described as a professional-style execution.
- Hampshire Constabulary relaunched the inquiry as Operation Tango in October 2024 to apply modern forensic techniques and has identified about 200 people to reinterview as part of the renewed probe.
- Detectives are working to trace an anonymous Crimestoppers tip from 2004 that they now regard as potentially important, and Crimestoppers is offering up to £20,000 for information that leads to a conviction until August 14, 2026.
- Haywood's family and local residents say the arrest brings fresh hope for closure, and police say further forensic tests, witness reinterviews and public leads will determine whether charges follow.