Woman killed in Valentine’s Day pub shooting

A girl in her 40s has died in a Valentine’s Day taking pictures exterior a village pub in Kent as police proceed to seek for the suspect.

Kent Police mentioned it was treating the taking pictures on the Three Horseshoes on Major Street, Knockholt, simply after 19:00 GMT on Friday, as a homicide inquiry.

The girl, who had gunshot wounds, died on the scene, officers mentioned.

Police later recovered a car that contained a gun on the Queen Elizabeth II bridge, which crosses the River Thames close to Dartford.

Det Ch Insp David Higham mentioned name handlers had acquired studies of a person on the flawed aspect of the barrier on the bridge.

He mentioned: “We aren’t ruling out the likelihood that he might have entered the water.

“We’re presently solely on the lookout for one suspect and don’t imagine there to be an ongoing danger to the general public.

“Specialist officers proceed to work with the households of each events concerned to help them following this tragic incident.”

The suspect, a person who’s believed to be identified to the sufferer, left the realm following the taking pictures, police mentioned earlier.

On Saturday morning, Kent Police mentioned it was working to determine and find “all individuals doubtlessly concerned”.

Native resident Chris Warner informed the BBC: “It is a actually quiet space. All people is aware of everybody.

“It is simply so surprising that one thing like this might occur right here.”

In a press release posted on its Fb web page, the Three Horseshoes pub expressed its “honest condolences to the sufferer’s household and pals”.

It added: “We additionally wish to ship our help to anybody else within the native and surrounding group who’ve been impacted by this.

“Please be respectful of everybody concerned at this tough time.”

MP for Sevenoaks and Swanley Laura Trott wrote on Fb that she was “devastated to listen to in regards to the incident”.

“I do know our group shall be shocked on the information however it is a dwell investigation and we should enable the police to do their job,” she mentioned.

Steve Maines, a parish councillor in Knockholt, informed the BBC he heard a “commotion” exterior the venue and was informed somebody had been shot.

He mentioned: “We had been sitting having our Valentine’s Day meal when swiftly we heard this large commotion exterior within the automotive park.

“We had been informed somebody had been shot so we needed to go away.”

Villager Dorothy Wong mentioned: “I heard round three to 4 bangs exterior and loud shouting from a girl’s voice.”

Ray Picot has lived within the village for 30 years.

He mentioned: “We appeared out and noticed the entire space cordoned off with ambulances, police and flashing lights.”

A separate discover on the pub’s Fb web page mentioned it will be closed on Saturday “following a tragic incident exterior the pub final evening”.

The Three Horseshoes is situated about 5 miles (8km) north-west of Sevenoaks.

BBC reporter Daniel MacLaren mentioned on Saturday morning the realm instantly across the pub was cordoned off with police tape.

Cops had been standing by on the scene to forestall entry.