A mother-of-two was shot dead outside a pub in Knockholt, Kent, on Valentine’s Day, with police investigating whether the suspect—a man believed to be known to her—later jumped from the Dartford Crossing in an apparent murder-suicide.
The victim, named locally as Lisa, was shot outside The Three Horseshoes pub around 7pm on Friday, February 14. Floral tributes and other offerings, including cans of Red Bull, have since been laid at the scene by devastated locals.
Eyewitnesses Recall Moments of Horror
Michelle Thomas, the pub’s landlady, described the terrifying moments before the shooting.
“I was printing off menus and preparing for the Valentine’s dinner service when I heard two loud bangs. At first, I thought they were fireworks. Then there was screaming, shouting, crying. People were outside on their phones, in shock,”
She added that around 30 people were in the pub’s dining area, while another 20 were in the bar when the attack took place.
An off-duty firearms officer was present and immediately intervened to secure the scene.
Murder-Suicide Theory Under Investigation
Kent Police are now investigating whether the suspected gunman later took his own life.
Detectives confirmed that a car linked to the shooting was found abandoned on the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge at the Dartford Crossing, with a firearm inside.
Police later received reports of a man on the wrong side of the barrier, leading officers to believe he may have entered the River Thames.
Detective Chief Inspector David Higham, the senior investigating officer, said:
“We are not ruling out the possibility that the suspect 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.”
Community in Shock
The tragedy has sent shockwaves through the quiet village of Knockholt, with locals struggling to come to terms with the horrific crime.
The local vicar, Rev Tim Edwards, echoed the sentiment:
“The main thing I’ve heard from people is shock. There’s a sense of disbelief. It’s not what you would expect in a village like this.”
Another local said: “I heard bangs and people crying outside. Twenty minutes later, police came and blocked the road. I thought the gunshots were fireworks.”
Tributes Pour In for Victim
While Lisa’s full identity has not yet been officially confirmed, locals have described her as a mother of two who had visited the pub before but was not a regular.
The pub’s official Facebook page posted a heartfelt message:
“All of us at The Three Horseshoes want to send our sincere condolences to the victim’s family and friends. We also want to send our support to anyone else in the local and surrounding community who has been impacted by this. Please be respectful of everyone involved at this difficult time, thank you.”
Ongoing Investigation
Police continue to search the River Thames for the missing suspect while forensic officers remain at The Three Horseshoes, examining evidence.
A blue Seat car found in the pub’s car park was removed by police on Saturday as part of the murder investigation.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Kent Police on 101, quoting incident reference 14/02/2025, or call Crimestoppers anonymously at 0800 555 111.
