Young mother and gangster ex-lover died ‘when he stormed into her home and detonated grenade’

The young mother whose ex-boyfriend broke into her house and killed both of them with a ‘hand grenade’ was seen for the first time.

Joanne Shaw, 35, died when Ryan Kelly, 41, detonated an explosive device at her home in Bristol on Sunday.

Armed police had called 999 13 minutes before the explosion and were on their way to the address in Sterncourt Road to respond to a ‘family-related’ incident.

It is thought the young mother recently moved into the terraced house to escape Mr Kelly.

Three people, thought to be his son and two other family members, were also injured in the ‘suspicious’ explosion and were taken to hospital for treatment for minor injuries. They have all since been discharged.

Avon and Somerset Police made a mandatory referral to the Independent Police Conduct Office following previously reported domestic incidents.

Police gave further details of the moments leading up to the explosion this afternoon, saying someone from within the property, not Ms Shaw, called police at 6.17am to report a ‘domestic incident’.

At 6.30am police were told a man was believed to be carrying explosives and an explosion was heard two minutes later.

Inspector Matt Ebbs said: ‘We know people will be shocked and upset to learn of the horrific events that took place on Sunday morning.

‘Jo’s death has been officially recorded as a homicide based on the information we currently know. We are not looking for anyone else in connection with his death.

The person killed in Sunday’s explosion was identified as 41-year-old Mr Kelly (pictured).

Officers continue to collect evidence from the address in the investigation described as ‘complex’ and ‘sensitive’ – 4 May 2026

‘We know everyone’s thoughts and sympathies will be with his devastated family. Specially trained officers provide them with updates and support.’

Ms Shaw is said to have worked at a tanning salon. His LinkedIn profile shows that he was previously an assistant manager at workspace rental company BE Offices.

The Daily Mail can reveal that Mr Kelly was jailed for five years in 2015 after admitting conspiring to supply cocaine as part of the ‘Breaking Bad’ drugs gang.

An online tribute described Ms Shaw as a ‘wonderful friend’, adding: ‘I can’t believe she is [sic] ‘taken from us’

Forensic officers continued collecting evidence yesterday at his home, where the front window was boarded up.

Broken glass can also be seen on the garden pavement in front of the boarded-up back door.

Meanwhile, a poster for a gardening firm, which the Daily Mail understands to belong to Ms Shaw’s brother, was taped to a window.

Today, the twisted frame of a broken window lies leaning against the wall and officers stand outside the cordon at the front of the house.

Mrs Shaw’s uncle, John Shaw, told the Daily Mail: ‘My younger brother Anthony rang me to tell me that she had been murdered and that her ex had thrown a grenade into the house.

‘I couldn’t believe what I heard and I’m still trying to make sense of it all. My brother could barely speak, he was crying on the phone.

‘We called my nephew Joey. She was a wonderful woman and a wonderful mother.

‘I don’t understand why anyone would want to harm him in any way. The man who did this is the scum of the earth and it is a good thing he is dead because otherwise I would have killed him myself.’

Mr Shaw, 76, added: ‘I’m still trying to figure out where his ex got the grenade from and what kind of grenade it was. But my brother couldn’t tell me anything about it because he was so distraught.’

A neighbor in Sterncourt Road said he believed mother-of-one Ms Shaw had been living at her parents’ home with her young son for up to three years after splitting from Mr Kelly.

She said she had heard rumors that Mr Kelly was harassing her.

Kelly’s mugshot from 2015. Jailed for five years after admitting conspiracy to supply cocaine as part of ‘Breaking Bad’ drug gang

“I heard a loud explosion first thing Sunday morning and thought it was some kind of gas explosion,” the neighbor added.

‘A neighbor said he saw an ambulance crew performing CPR on two people in the street a short time later.

‘The little boy I feel desperately sorry for. Knowing that he will grow up without his mother is devastating. ‘Just a terrible loss for this family.’

Other residents said there had been several incidents over the past few weeks where shouting could be heard from the house.

One woman said: ‘I don’t know who was arguing but sometimes a man could be heard shouting at a woman.

‘The police were called a few times but then the situation seemed to calm down.

‘No one here knew what this was about.

‘But recently the fights started again. This is such a quiet area that every shout affects people.

‘There’s a river and a nature reserve behind that house, so there’s nothing to muffle the noise.’

Mr Kelly’s parents and brother were too upset to comment, but a member of the extended family told the Daily Mail he had heard he ‘took his own life’ – although he was not told he died in the explosion.

The relative, who wished to remain anonymous, said: ‘I received a call from another family member saying Ryan had died.

‘He told me he had taken his own life and I was truly shocked.

‘Even though it had been years since I had seen him (he was probably just a child) I still couldn’t believe he was dead.

‘And now it’s quite shocking to hear that he may have died in that explosion.’

Mr Kelly’s other relatives were too upset to talk about the incident.

But a childhood friend told of ‘partying with him in Bristol a few weeks ago’.

The man added: ‘He and Joanne were no longer together. They broke up a while ago but I never met him. The last time I saw him, we were having fun in a nightclub.

The bent frame of a shattered window is seen leaning against the wall of the house – May 5, 2026

‘He said he was going somewhere to clear his head but didn’t go into further detail.’

The owner of a local corner shop, The Frome Valley Local Store, said: ‘I knew Joanne well. He was a very nice person; When he walked in he was always positive and always talkative.

‘He was part of the community here, so a lot of people knew him. I’m still in shock about what happened. ‘I don’t know the details but it’s very sad.’

Avon and Somerset Police moved swiftly on Sunday to rule out a terror link and said detectives were not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident “at this stage”.

Police have since described the incident as a ‘complex and sensitive investigation’.

Officers also searched an address three miles away in Speedwell, where Mr. Kelly lived with his mother.

Companies House documents linked to this address show Mr Kelly is a director of used car sales firm Vansdam.

His two previously failed business ventures – men’s outerwear firm Ballinderry Clothing and car rental company Aston Hire – were dissolved in 2019 and 2023.

Mr Kelly’s brother declined to comment when contacted by the Daily Mail, but a number of tributes were posted online.

A video from a friend showed him drinking a beer straight from a bar’s tap, while another commented: ‘Absolutely heartbroken at this sad news. ‘I was with you just a few weeks ago to catch up on a good break.’

Mr Kelly was jailed in 2015 in a case similar to the US TV show Breaking Bad, in which high school chemistry teacher Walter White began producing crystal meth to raise money after he was diagnosed with lung cancer.

In this case, 78-year-old genius George Rogers, stricken with cancer, ran the plot from prison despite his illness and hired a self-taught chemist to set up a laboratory and create the highly addictive drug crystal meth.

But unlike the fictional version, the real-life plot ended before undercover police flooded south-west England with drugs after bugging their car.

Following the explosion in Bristol, a bomb disposal unit was deployed and specialist searches were carried out by the British Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal Department. The area was deemed safe on Sunday evening.

Inspector Matt Ebbs told reporters at a press conference on Sunday afternoon: ‘At around 6.17pm we received a call to respond to a domestic incident at a residential address in Sterncourt Road.

‘Officers were dispatched to the scene but shortly before they arrived, at 6.30am, an explosion occurred at the property.

‘A woman and a man died at the address and we are treating the explosion as suspicious.

‘Their families are updated and supported by specially trained officers and our thoughts are with them.

‘Three people, a man, a woman and a child, were taken to hospital to be treated for minor injuries.’

About 70 people were evacuated from their homes and taken to the nearby Snuff Mill Harvester bar, which was used as a temporary rest centre.