A 25-YEAR-OLD father-of-one found murdered close to a main road in Craigavon was subjected to a "very violent" attack before his death.
A 40-year-old man was last night being questioned on suspicion of murder after the body of Nathan Gibson was found on a tow path by Lake Road late on Thursday.
Police are also investigating an attack on a woman, believed to be Mr Gibson's fiancée, who was forced to jump out of the top window of her house.
Reports from the scene suggested she was taken to hospital with broken bones after she jumped from her home in Legahory Court to flee the alleged attacker.
It is understood that Mr Gibson, who had a young son with his fiancée, was beaten to death.
It has been suggested he had also been stabbed and his body had been moved to the path after the killing.
The PSNI yesterday cordoned off three separate crime scenes, including in Legahory Court where Mr Gibson and his fiancée lived, Clonmeen estate, believed to be where the 40-year-old suspect was arrested, and Lake Road. The path where Mr Gibson's body was found is close to Clonmeen estate.
Mr Gibson had previously been convicted of several minor drug offences including unlawful possession of herbal cannabis.
PSNI Detective Chief Inspector John Caldwell said police received a report late on Thursday night that Mr Gibson had been attacked. He was later pronounced dead at the scene.
The senior officer appealed to anyone who knew where Mr Gibson was between 5.30pm and 11.30pm on Thursday, or who saw anything suspicious, to contact police.
He said police were also investigating an "incident" at Legahory Court.
"Whilst we cannot get into specific details of this incident we are also appealing to anyone who witnessed anyone acting in a suspicious manner in this area late last night to contact police," he said.
Mr Gibson is the second person to be murdered this year. The body of murdered Carrickfergus man Glenn Quinn (47) was found on January 4.
Sinn Féin MLA John O'Dowd said Mr Gibson died in "what appears to have been a very, very violent incident".
"It's a tragic and shocking incident. My thoughts and prayers are with the family at this time."
SDLP councillor Thomas Larkham asked people to bear in mind Mr Gibson's grieving family.
"A young man has lost his life," he said.
"My thoughts and prayers are with his family. It was shocking for the community to wake up this morning to hear that a body had been found in their area."
His party colleague, MLA Dolores Kelly, said she was deeply concerned by a recent spate of murders and would raise the issue at a meeting of the Policing Board next month.
Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart said she was stunned by the death.
"This is obviously a very sad situation for the family of the deceased man and my thoughts are with them at this time. A young life cut off in its prime," she said.
