The landlady of a village pub where a woman was killed on Valentine’s Day has told Sky News the victim was drinking in the pub before she was shot dead in the car park.
Michelle Thomas, who runs The Three Horseshoes pub in Knockholt, Kent, said she was printing off menus and preparing for the Valentine’s dinner service when she heard two loud bangs that she initially “thought were fireworks”.
“There was so much commotion – screaming, shouting, crying. People were outside, on their phones. We tried to get people inside the pub to consolidate them.
“People were only just starting to sit down, it was early on in the evening”, she said.
Bouquets have been laid near the scene of the shooting
Cans of Red Bull were also left among the flowers, suggesting a connection with locals
She described how an off-duty firearms officer intervened, calling him “amazing” as he helped get the situation under control following the shooting on Friday.
Around 30 people were at the pub for dinner, while 20 more were in the bar as the incident unfolded just after 7pm.
The pub near Sevenoaks reopened its doors on Sunday, but Ms Thomas said the community is in “absolute shock”.
She said the victim, whose identity has not yet been released, had been to the pub before “mostly in the summer” but “wasn’t a regular”.
Police have said the woman, in her 40s, is believed to have known her attacker.
People laid flowers in the pub’s car park, while the murder investigation continues.
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Investigators recovered a vehicle linked to the investigation on the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, which crosses the River Thames in Dartford, roughly 17 miles (27km) away from the scene of the shooting.
Police call handlers had received reports of a man on the wrong side of the barrier of the bridge.
Detective Chief Inspector David Higham said they’re “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”, he said.
Laura Trott, Conservative MP for Sevenoaks and Swanley, said she was “devastated” about the shooting. Posting on Facebook she said: “My thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends impacted.
“I know our community will be shocked at the news, but this is a live investigation and we must allow the police to do their job.”