Family Pays Tribute to Beloved Father After Beaumont Leys Park Tragedy
Beaumont Leys, Leicester – April 7, 2026 – The family of James “Jimmy” McKeown, 62, has paid tribute to the man they describe as a loving father, partner, and grandfather following his tragic death in Beaumont Leys Park on Monday evening.
Jimmy was found unconscious in the park around 6:20 PM on April 6 and was rushed to hospital, where he sadly passed away. Known affectionately in the community as “Spider,” Jimmy had lived locally for nearly 20 years and was well-known to many residents.
A family spokesperson said, “To say that the events of yesterday evening have changed our lives forever is an understatement. We have lost a loving father, brother, partner, and grandfather. Our lives will never be the same again. We ask that people respect our privacy as we come to terms with this loss.”
A 33-year-old man remains in police custody, arrested on suspicion of murder. Detective Inspector Kevin Hames of the East Midlands Murder Investigation Team confirmed that specialist officers are supporting the family and urged anyone with information to contact police.
The incident prompted a temporary cordon in Beaumont Leys Park while enquiries were carried out, which has now been lifted. Anyone with information is asked to contact Leicestershire Police on 101 or report online via www.leics.police.uk, quoting incident 572 of April 6.