Landlady of pub where woman was shot dead heard loud bangs 'like fireworks'

Yahoo

16-02-2025

The landlady of a pub where a woman was tragically shot on Valentine's Day has described hearing two loud bangs that she initially thought were fireworks. Michelle Thomas, who runs The Three Horseshoes in Knockholt, Kent, told Sky News that patrons began "screaming, shouting and crying" as they realised what had occurred.
A woman in her 40s sadly died at the scene following a shooting in the pub's car park, according to Kent Police. The suspect, believed to be known to the victim, reportedly fled the area, with a car and gun later discovered at the Queen Elizabeth II bridge crossing the River Thames.
Police subsequently received reports of a man on the wrong side of the barrier, leading them to believe he may have entered the water. Ms Thomas was preparing for the Valentine's dinner service when she heard the bangs.
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She estimated around 30 people were at the pub for dinner, with an additional 20 in the bar when the incident unfolded just after 7pm. "People were only just starting to sit down, it was early on in the evening," she told Sky.
She also recounted how an off-duty firearms officer intervened to manage the situation. The victim had visited the pub before but "wasn't a regular", she told the broadcaster.
It is understood that neither the suspect nor victim were from Kent, but had local connections to the area.
Detective Chief Inspector David Higham, the senior investigating officer, provided an update on Saturday: "Call handlers received reports of a man on the wrong side of the barrier and we are not ruling out the possibility that he may have entered the water.
"We are currently only looking for one suspect and do not believe there to be an ongoing risk to the public.
"Specialist officers continue to work with the families of both parties involved to support them following this tragic incident."