Northampton murder victim had number of past convictions and had been to jail
Tommy Boom was sent to prison last year for carrying a hammer in Northampton town centre
By Sarah Ward
Published 7.10am Tuesday, July 23
The man killed in a Northampton Park last Thursday had served time in prison, including for the possession of a hammer in Northampton town centre.
Father of one Tommy Boom, 30, died in Semilong Park, close to the former Super Sausage cafe, just after midnight on Thursday after suffering a fatal stab wound to his chest.
Two men from Northampton, both aged 21, have been arrested in connection with his murder and a Northampton woman, 45, arrested on suspicion of helping an offender has been released under investigation. At the time of publication police had not announced any charges.
Boom, whose family issued a tribute yesterday and asked for privacy, was a known criminal and had been given a six month sentence in June last year and after pleading guilty to carrying a hammer in Market Place, Northampton in June 2022.
In April this year court records show that he was also sentenced to three days in prison for ‘flagrant disregard for court orders’ after failing to attend an appointment with the probation service as had been required under a community order he was subject to.
During lockdown in February 2021, he was convicted of failing to wear a face covering while in the Tesco store in Hunsbury and was fined £344.
Yesterday his un-named family released a tribute through Northants Police media office it said:
“We moved to Northampton from East London when Tommy was about 10, and although he was painfully shy as a youngster, he loved the outdoors and his social life. As a teenager he’d complain that school got in the way of his social life.
“Tommy was such a loveable character with a heart of gold and had lots of friends. He loved his daughter so much. It breaks our hearts that they will not have that chance to create a lifetime of memories together.
“We are a close family, and both (mum and dad) come from big families, who played a huge part in his life, especially when we were still living in Canning Town. Having to tell them that he’d been killed, ripped our world apart.
“We saw a different side of Tommy, one which he rarely showed to others. He was kind and could be quite sensitive, but he loved life and socialising. He had the most beautiful smile - it would always light up the room.
“Fitness was an absolute passion of his along with going to the gym, but he was also a foodie – loved to cook, looking for new recipes and of, course, eating! He could eat a three-course meal but still have room for a midnight snack.
“As a family we still feel numb about what has happened, it just doesn’t feel real that he is dead. It has just absolutely destroyed us.
“Reading all the tributes on social media along with the cards and flowers at Semilong Park has provided some source of comfort. It’s been nice to see how loved he was by other people and how he will be sadly missed by everyone who knew him.”
Detective chief inspector Johnny Campbell is leading the murder investigation and arrests were made quickly after his murder, although four people initially arrested within hours of his killing were released on bail on Friday, and police say they have been eliminated from enquiries.
In the hours after his death a number of streets close to the murder scene were taped off.
His murder is the third knife death on the streets of Northampton within 18 months. Schoolboy Fred Shand, 16, was killed by another teenager on Harborough Road, Northampton, close to the Cock Hotel on March 22 2023 and university student Kwabena Osei-Poku, who had been dealing drugs on campus, was killed by Melvin Lebaga-Idubor on April 23 last year.
Anyone with information about Tommy Boom’s murder who is yet to come forward can call Northamptonshire Police on 101 or go online at www.northants.police.uk/RO, quoting incident number 24000425259.
Alternatively you can contact Crimestoppers in confidence on 0800 555111 or online at https://crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information/forms/give-information-anonymously
A dedicated online portal for people to submit information, including relevant mobile phone, CCTV or dashcam footage, is available here: https://mipp.police.uk/operation/33EM24D01-PO1
Update at 2.40pm
Daniel Larman, aged 21, and Kieran Okocha-Sleight, also aged 21, both of Woodside Way, were charged with Tommy Boom’s murder yesterday evening and appeared at Northampton Magistrates this morning. Larman is also charged with one count of possession of a bladed article.
Both have been remanded in custody and will go before the crown court tomorrow morning.
The 21-year-old Birmingham man arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender and perverting the course of justice has been released on bail as enquiries continue.
The 45-year-old Northampton woman arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender has been released under investigation pending further enquiries.