A resident described how he arrived home in the early hours of this morning to find his neighbourhood "crawling with police."
The man lives in North Road, St Helens, just a few yards away from the YMCA building where a man in his 30s was fatally stabbed last night (Monday).
The man said: "I'm also in my 30s and after it happened I was getting texted to ask if I was all right because people were worried about me.
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"I work nights and when I got home at around 3.30pm the place was crawling with police.
"I've lived here two years and it's a bit worrying. Normally it's quiet."
Merseyside Police confirmed today they had launched a murder investigation and named the victim as Lee Andrews, 33, of no fixed abode but from the St Helens area.
This morning a single bouquet of flowers was laid outside the police cordon surrounding the YMCA building, close to a gym and mixed martial arts centre.
Kyle Stanford, one of the PT instructors at the gym - which remained open - said: "It's been a topic of conversation among customers and members.
"People have been asking about what's happened and why the road was closed."
Forensics officers could be seen entering the YMCA building where the incident took place, close to St Helens town centre.
Around a mile away, another police cordon was set up at a block of modern flats at the junction of Hall Street and Shaw Street.
One of the entrances to the flats was closed off with tape and forensics activity could be seen in the area.
A Merseyside Police spokesperson confirmed this was linked to the murder scene at the YMCA in North Road, but no more details were forthcoming at this stage.
A post mortem will take place to confirm the cause of death of Mr Andrews. His next of kin have been informed.
A 42 year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder and remains in custody.
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