Manhunt After Valentine’s Day Mum Shot Dead Outside Kent Pub
Lifeboat crews from Gravesend RNLI are in full search mode along the River Thames for Edvard Stokings. He’s wanted after the fatal shooting of his wife, Lisa Smith, outside The Three Horseshoes pub in Knockholt on Valentine’s Day.
Suspect Believed to Have Jumped from Dartford Crossing
Police suspect Stokings leapt from the QE2 Bridge at the Dartford Crossing late Friday night as he fled the scene. His abandoned car, containing a firearm, was found nearby, triggering a huge manhunt and water search.
Intense Search Underway Along Thames Estuary
Specialist teams, including police marine units, the Coastguard, and Gravesend RNLI, are combing the Thames estuary. Aerial and sonar scans are underway, hoping to find Stokings’ body. Kent Police confirmed:
“Given the circumstances surrounding the suspect’s disappearance, we have enlisted support from specialist search teams. Our investigation remains ongoing.”
Community in Shock After Chilling Valentine’s Day Murder
The murder probe began after Lisa Stockings, a mother-of-two, was shot dead in the pub car park on Friday. Witnesses described terrified scenes as gunfire erupted, sparking panic among Valentine’s Day revellers.
Landlady Michelle Thomas recalled the chaos: “There was so much commotion – screaming, shouting, crying. People were outside on their phones. We tried to get people inside the pub.”
The pub was packed, with around 30 people dining and 20 more in the bar when the shooting happened.
Murder-Suicide Theory Gains Traction
Investigators are weighing up the possibility of murder-suicide. Stokings’ car was found near the Dartford Crossing, and witnesses reported seeing a man on the wrong side of the bridge barriers around the time he vanished.
“We are not ruling out that Stockings entered the water after abandoning his vehicle,” a police source said. “The search is ongoing, and we are working closely with emergency services.”
Tributes Flood in for Lisa Stockings
Friends and family have been leaving floral tributes at the pub’s car park, mourning Lisa as a devoted mum and kind soul.
One friend said: “She was a wonderful mum, always putting her kids first. No one deserves what happened to her.”
Kent Police Appeal for Witnesses
The investigation continues as Kent Police urge anyone who saw anything unusual near the Dartford Crossing or has information on Stokings’ whereabouts to come forward.
People are asked to contact Kent Police on 101 immediately.
