Police in Belfast believe the killer of a promising young boxer lay in wait while the victim was visiting a friend.
Eamonn Magee Jnr – whose father, also called Eamonn, is a former WBU welterweight champion – was stabbed multiple times in the garden of the house at Summerhill Park in the Twinbrook area of west Belfast on Saturday.
The attack, described by police as vicious, happened as the 22-year-old engineering student went to check on a pizza delivery during the early hours of the morning.
Det Chief Insp John McVea, who is leading the investigation, said: “Nobody would have known that Eamonn would have been coming out of the house to look for the pizza delivery, therefore we believe that the person was lying in wait for Eamonn as he would have come out of the house.”
A 32-year-old man remains in police custody and is being questioned about the killing.
Line of inquiry
Mr McVea described the
man in custody as a “strong line of inquiry”, but declined to comment further on whether he knew Mr Magee or the friend he was visiting.
The knife used in the killing is believed to have been stolen from a property nearby which has been searched by police.
“We are particularly interested in the time between 1.30am and 3am,” added Det Chief Insp McVea. “We believe the attack happened at 2.30am. But we believe the person may have been in the area for some time prior to the attack.
“Eamonn sadly has been attacked instantly as he has come out the back door into the garden. He has been stabbed a number of times.”
Eamonn Magee Snr, known as the Terminator during his career, enjoyed Commonwealth success. Among his most high profile fights was the 2002 sell-out bout against ex-world champion Ricky Hatton in Manchester.