A DYING man begged for help to save his life before collapsing in a shop doorway after being knifed in the neck.

Police launched a murder inquiry and were last night still hunting the knifeman who stabbed a man in the neck in East Oxford at about noon on Monday.

The victim, who has not been identified, stumbled into Wasim’s Regency Stores, in Magdalen Road, before collapsing at The Regal nightclub.

He died from his wounds when he reached Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital in an ambulance.

Police raided four homes, seized CCTV and increased patrols in the area, but the knifeman was still at large last night.

A shopkeeper at Wasim’s Regency Stores, who did not want to be named, said: “He came in with a slit throat and fell on the ground. He said ‘please help me I am dying’.

“There was blood and we called the ambulance.

“But he got up and carried on staggering up the road until he got to The Regal when he collapsed again and the ambulance turned up.”

Officers raided three homes in Ridgefield Road and one in Drove Acre Road at 9pm on Monday, but nobody had been arrested last night.

The murder weapon has not yet been found.

A post-mortem examination was carried out yesterday and the dead man was expected to be formally identified later today.

Police are investigating reports the victim was seen arguing with another man in Ridgefield Road shortly before he died.

CCTV seized by the police also showed the victim in the Cowley Road area on the morning of his death.

Det Chief Insp Mick Saunders, who is leading the investigation, said “I would like to reassure the community that this appears to be a targeted, deliberate attack and our investigation continues to identify and arrest the person responsible.

“The exact location of the murder has still not been identified but two men were seen arguing in Ridgefield Road shortly before the victim staggered into The Regal.

“At this stage we still do not know the motive behind the murder and cannot confirm if it was in connection with drugs.

“The victim did not have drugs in his possession at the time.”

Police said they were keeping an open mind as to whether the murder is linked to a stabbing in Oxford Road, Cowley, last week.

A 50-year-old man stumbled into Oxford Probation Office with a knife wound to his stomach. He is still being treated in hospital. Nobody has been arrested in connection with the incident.

Father-of-three Mohammed Saleem, 50, of Ridgefield Road, said: “We are scared today.

“I’m worried for my children and won’t let them outside.”

Neighbour Anthony Price, 82, said: “I’ve lived here almost 60 years. This does concern me a little bit but I don’t feel any differently because most people round here are nice, good-living families.”

Anyone with information should call police on 08458 505505 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

mwilkinson@oxfordmail.co.uk