Lifeboat crews from Gravesend RNLI have been conducting extensive searches of the River Thames for Edvard Stokings, the suspect in the fatal shooting of his wife, Lisa Smith outside The Three Horseshoes pub in Knockholt on Valentine’s Day.
Authorities believe Stokings may have jumped from the QE2 Bridge at the Dartford Crossing late on Friday night after fleeing the crime scene. His abandoned vehicle, containing a firearm, was discovered nearby, prompting an urgent manhunt and water search operation.
Search Efforts Intensify
Specialist search teams, police marine units, and lifeboat crews from Gravesend RNLI have been scouring the Thames estuary in hopes of recovering Stockings’ body. The RNLI, Coastguard, and Kent Police have been working together, with aerial and sonar searches covering the river and its surrounding areas.
A Kent Police spokesperson confirmed:
“Given the circumstances surrounding the suspect’s disappearance, we have enlisted support from specialist search teams to assist in the operation. Our investigation remains ongoing.
Community Reels from Shocking Tragedy
The murder investigation was launched after Lisa Stockings, a mother-of-two, was shot dead outside the pub’s car park on Friday, February 14. Witnesses recall the terrifying moment gunfire rang out, causing panic among customers celebrating Valentine’s Day.
Landlady Michelle Thomas, who was inside the pub at the time, described the chaotic scenes:
“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 full of diners and drinkers, with around 30 people seated for a Valentine’s meal and 20 more in the bar when the attack took place.
Murder-Suicide Theory Emerges
Investigators are considering the possibility of a murder-suicide, given that Stockings’ car was discovered at the Dartford Crossing, and witness reports suggest a man was seen on the wrong side of the bridge barriers around the time of his disappearance.
A police source stated:
“We are not ruling out the possibility that Stockings entered the water after abandoning his vehicle. The search is ongoing, and we are working closely with emergency services to locate him.”
Tributes Pour in for Lisa
Friends and family have been laying floral tributes at the pub’s car park, remembering Lisa as a loving mother and kind-hearted woman.
One friend said:
“She was a wonderful mum, always putting her kids first. No one deserves what happened to her.”
Ongoing Investigation
Kent Police continue to appeal for witnesses who saw anything unusual near the Dartford Crossing or have any information regarding Stockings’ whereabouts.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Kent Police on 101.
