Tragedy Strikes in Kent as Valentine’s Day Shooting Results in Death of Lisa Smith
Suspect believed to have drowned in the River Thames following the incident outside a local pub.
On Valentine's Day, a tragic incident unfolded in Knockholt, Kent, as Lisa Smith, 43, from Slough, was shot and killed outside the Three Horseshoes pub shortly after 7 PM. The primary suspect in the case is her husband, Edvard Stockings, who reportedly fled the scene in a vehicle following the shooting.
Witnesses reported hearing sounds outside the pub, initially mistaken for fireworks, before a sense of alarm spread among patrons.
The landlady of the pub, Michelle Thomas, recounted the chaotic scene, stating that nearly 50 customers were present at the time of the incident, who reacted with confusion and distress as the situation escalated.
In the aftermath, Stockings allegedly contacted his close friend, Leslie Thompson, and confessed to the crime, expressing despair and stating, "She's dead.
I can't live - we've all gone together.
I'll see you on the other side." Thompson noted that he was unable to respond to Stockings' confession.
The investigation into the case revealed that a car matching the description of Stockings' was found abandoned on the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, approximately 17 miles from the shooting location.
The vehicle contained a handgun.
Eyewitness accounts indicated that a man was observed near the bridge's barrier before disappearing.
Authorities, including Detective Chief Inspector David Higham, stated that they have reliable witness accounts of Stockings entering the River Thames after the shooting.
Higham confirmed that a sighting of a body, believed to be Stockings', occurred, but law enforcement officials were unable to recover it before it submerged again.
"We had a very large search parameter under the Dartford Crossing,” Higham said.
“Unfortunately, we were unable to recover it before it became submerged again, but I am confident from the description that it is the suspect for our offence.”
The investigation is ongoing, with police focusing on gathering more evidence and conducting searches in the area where the body was last seen.
The community has been impacted deeply by the loss of Lisa Smith, described by police as a beloved daughter and mother.
Detective Chief Inspector Higham addressed the emotional toll of the incident, remarking on the senselessness of the tragedy.
The local community remains on high alert as the police continue their investigation into the events that transpired on that fateful evening.
Witnesses reported hearing sounds outside the pub, initially mistaken for fireworks, before a sense of alarm spread among patrons.
The landlady of the pub, Michelle Thomas, recounted the chaotic scene, stating that nearly 50 customers were present at the time of the incident, who reacted with confusion and distress as the situation escalated.
In the aftermath, Stockings allegedly contacted his close friend, Leslie Thompson, and confessed to the crime, expressing despair and stating, "She's dead.
I can't live - we've all gone together.
I'll see you on the other side." Thompson noted that he was unable to respond to Stockings' confession.
The investigation into the case revealed that a car matching the description of Stockings' was found abandoned on the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, approximately 17 miles from the shooting location.
The vehicle contained a handgun.
Eyewitness accounts indicated that a man was observed near the bridge's barrier before disappearing.
Authorities, including Detective Chief Inspector David Higham, stated that they have reliable witness accounts of Stockings entering the River Thames after the shooting.
Higham confirmed that a sighting of a body, believed to be Stockings', occurred, but law enforcement officials were unable to recover it before it submerged again.
"We had a very large search parameter under the Dartford Crossing,” Higham said.
“Unfortunately, we were unable to recover it before it became submerged again, but I am confident from the description that it is the suspect for our offence.”
The investigation is ongoing, with police focusing on gathering more evidence and conducting searches in the area where the body was last seen.
The community has been impacted deeply by the loss of Lisa Smith, described by police as a beloved daughter and mother.
Detective Chief Inspector Higham addressed the emotional toll of the incident, remarking on the senselessness of the tragedy.
The local community remains on high alert as the police continue their investigation into the events that transpired on that fateful evening.
