First picture of man stabbed to death in Ayr as police launch murder probe
The first photograph has emerged of a man who was stabbed to death in Ayr.
Mark Blackwood was discovered with serious injuries on Glenmuir Place in the town at around 8.10pm on Saturday.
Paramedics and an air ambulance were called but the 42-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene.
A post-mortem has since been carried out. Detectives now treating his death as murder.
Extensive enquiries are being carried with officers using specialist resources.
The Record told on Saturday evening how dozens of police units swarmed the street as they launched manhunt for a suspect.
Armed cops and sniffer dogs were deployed as part of the huge response. Officers focused on addresses in both Glenmuir Place and Braeside Road.
A source told the Record: "There are police everywhere. They swarmed the residential area earlier this evening.
"A man has been stabbed. There was an air ambulance that landed on a nearby field. It left shortly after.
"More police began to arrive all over the area and started knocking doors in. There was armed response officers with shields at an address on Braeside Road. There's now sniffer dog units out as well.
"They are clearly looking for someone."
Allison Ballie Smith said: 'Rest in peace Mark.You were always a good friend to my brother and my heart goes out to your family. Fly high pal.'
Margaret Henderson said: "Gone from you're sight but never you're memories gone from you're touch but NEVER you're hearts. RIP BIG GUY."
Andrew Pollock added: "Rest in peace Mark."
Detectives say they are probing a number of lines of enquiry. A police presence is set to remain in the area.
Detective Inspector Steven Slater of the Major Investigation Team said: 'Our thoughts are with Mark's family and friends at this very difficult time.
"It is vital that we get answers for them and we are fully committed to this.
"An extensive investigation is ongoing and officers are following a number of lines of enquiry.
'Additional officers remain in the area, and I would encourage anyone who has concerns, or any information, to approach them.
'I continue to appeal to anyone who was in the area at the time and saw anything that could assist with our investigation to get in touch by contacting Police Scotland on 101 quoting incident number 3237 of 5 July, 2025.'
A dedicated Major Incident Public Portal has been set up and information can be passed anonymously on the following link: https://mipp.police.uk/operation/SCOT25S29-PO1
Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!
Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today.
You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland.
No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team.
All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in!
If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'.
We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like.
To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
25 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Lovestruck man travels 500 miles to meet beauty queen ‘he believed was his ‘future wife'… to be greeted by her husband
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A LOVESTRUCK man travelled nearly 500 miles to meet a beauty queen he had been talking to online - only to be greeted by her husband. Unlucky Belgian man Michel had turned up at Sophie Vouzeland's home in Saint-Julien, France, and announced he was her "future husband". Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 6 Unlucky Belgian man Michel had turned up at Sophie Vouzeland's home in Saint-Julien Credit: AFP 6 Stunning Sophie is a former Miss Limousin and 2007 Miss France runner-up Credit: Getty 6 76-year-old Michel thought he had been speaking on WhatsApp to the beauty queen for weeks Credit: Instagram/20minutesfrance 6 Belgian man Michel had been scammed Credit: Instagram/20minutesfrance But Sophie's actual husband Fabien emerged from the home and quipped: "Well, I'm the current one." Stunning Sophie is a former Miss Limousin and 2007 Miss France runner-up. She boasts nearly 300,000 followers on Instagram alone and often posts her life on social media. 76-year-old Michel thought he had been speaking on WhatsApp to the beauty queen for weeks - and had even transferred an eye-watering £25,000 which he thought was just a loan. Michel is heard saying: "I think she played a dirty trick on me." The shocked man then shows Sophie's husband the many messages he and, who he thought was the French model, had exchanged. Fabien responded: "My wife, no, it's the fake accounts. "You have to be very careful." It didn't take long before Michel realised he had sadly been scammed, telling the couple: "I am an imbecile." Husband Fabien videoed some of the exchange and posted it to social media where it has garnered thousands of views. My boy, 14, thought he was innocently flirting with a girl online – 35-minutes later he was dead He also wrote a warning on the post about the dangers of romance scams. This is where someone is deceived into sending cash to a criminal who convinces them they're in an actual relationship. Fabien said in the post: "I feel so sorry for this man. "Watch out for fake accounts, I'm sharing this video to show you it's real and to be vigilant! Take care of yourself." Belgian man Michel is thought to be a widower of four years and was looking for love - but was heinously scammed. Sophie urged the deceived man to go to the cops to lodge a complaint. It remains unclear whether he has or not. The beauty queen expressed her sympathy for Michel and said the incident "hurts my heart". 6 Sophie Vouzelaud Fabien Boutamine attend 'Rencontre Et Partage' Entre Specialistes du 7 eme Art Hosted in 2016 Credit: Getty
Daily Record
an hour ago
- Daily Record
Four injured after shotgun blasted inside pub
Two men and two women were hurt in the shooting. A police probe is underway after a shotgun was blasted at a pub - leaving four drinkers injured. The drama unfolded last night, leaving two women and two men injured. They suffered minor injuries in what police have described as "an isolated incident", which saw armed cops swooping on the boozer in question. The incident took place at Dunkirk Hall, Leyland, Lancashire, at 10.19pm last night, Friday, July 18, 2025, Manchester Evening News reports today. Two men, in their 20s and 40s respectively, and two women, in their 20s and 50s, sustained minor injuries. Lancashire Police said the shooting is being treated "as an isolated incident". Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. A spokesperson said: "At 10.19pm on Friday 18th July we were called to reports of a shotgun being discharged on Dunkirk Lane, Leyland. "Armed officers attended to find a man in his 20s, a man in his 40s, a woman in her 50s, and a woman in her 20s, all with minor injuries. "An investigation in underway and enquiries are ongoing. This is being treated as an isolated incident, and we have increased reassurance patrols in the area as a precaution." The pub shared on Facebook: "To all customers: Following an incident last night, both the pub and Smokies will be closed for a while today - certainly early afternoon whilst the police carry out further forensic investigations. "We hope to be open by late afternoon, but please watch this space for further information. Just to quell any rumours no one has been seriously injured and all staff and customers are fine." Originally a manor house, Dunkirk Hall was used as an office building for most of the twentieth century before its conversion into a pub in 1983. As of 4.30pm today (Saturday July 18), the pub had not provided any further updates. Anyone possessing relevant information is urged to contact the police on 101, referencing log 1775 of 18th July.
Daily Record
2 hours ago
- Daily Record
Scots cops probe firebombing after Jeep torched last night in residential street
The incident took place in Paisley, Renfrewshire. A police probe is underway after a car was torched in Paisley. The incident took place in the Renfrewshire residential street last night. Police Scotland said the black Jeep Compass was "deliberately set alight" at around 11.35pm. Officers are now appealing to the public for information on the Friday, July 18, 2025 blaze. They want to speak to anyone who may be able to assist officers with the probe. They are hoping residents may have CCTV footage. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. dashcam footage. The small street in question, Hartfield Terrace, is home to semi-detached houses and four-in-a-block flats. And the blaze was brought under control after firefighters attended. Paisley. "Around 11.35pm on Friday, 18 July, 2025, a black Jeep Compass car was deliberately set alight on Hartfield Terrace. "The fire was extinguished by Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and there were no injuries." Detective Constable Zain Kayani added: "Our enquiries are ongoing into this incident, and I am asking anyone who might have been in the area and saw something to get in touch. 'Similarly, anyone in the area with private CCTV or dash-cam footage that might have captured anything at the time is urged to contact us." Anyone with information should contact Police Scotland on 101 quoting incident 4440 of 18 July. Crimestoppers can also be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111.
