Woman killed in Valentine’s Day pub shooting

Joshua Askew

BBC News, South East

One local resident reported hearing “bangs” and a woman “shouting”

PA Media A police officer stands outside the Three Horseshoes pub in Knockholt — One local resident reported hearing “bangs” and a woman “shouting”

A woman in her 40s has died in a Valentine’s Day shooting outside a village pub in Kent as a manhunt continues.

Kent Police said it was treating the shooting at the Three Horseshoes on Main Road, Knockholt, just after 19:00 GMT on Friday, as a murder inquiry.

The woman, who had gunshot wounds, died at the scene, officers said.

A vehicle recovered at the Dartford Crossing along with a firearm is being linked to the death, police have said.

The suspect, a man who is believed to be known to the victim, left the area and is currently outstanding.

Kent Police said it was working to identify and locate “all persons potentially involved”.

Local resident Chris Warner told the BBC: “It’s a really quiet area. Everybody knows everyone.

“It’s just so shocking that something like this could happen here.”

Police forensic teams have been working at the scene

PA Media A police forensic officer writes on a clipboard, wearing a white gown and blue plastic gloves. — Police forensic teams have been working at the scene

Steve Maines, a parish councillor in Knockholt, told the BBC he heard a “commotion” outside the venue and was told someone had been shot.

He said: “We were sitting having our Valentine’s Day meal when all of a sudden we heard this huge commotion outside in the car park.

“We were told someone had been shot so we had to leave.”

Villager Dorothy Wong said: “I heard around three to four bangs outside and loud shouting from a woman’s voice.”

Ray Picot has lived in the village for 30 years.

He said: “We looked out and saw the whole area cordoned off with ambulances, police and flashing lights.

“It’s hard to believe that something like this has happened in our village.”

A notice on the pub’s Facebook page said it would be closed on Saturday “following a tragic incident outside the pub last night”.

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

BBC reporter Daniel MacLaren said on Saturday morning the area immediately around the pub was cordoned off with police tape.

Police officers were standing by at the scene to prevent access.

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