Police Launch Major Thames Search for Murder Suspect After Knockholt Shooting
Officers are scouring the River Thames after a murder suspect linked to the fatal shooting of a woman in Knockholt reportedly plunged from the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge at the Dartford Crossing.
Fatal Valentine’s Day Shooting at Knockholt Pub
Kent Police rushed to The Three Horseshoes pub on Main Road, Knockholt, at 7.02pm on Friday, 14 February following reports of a disturbance.
They found a woman in her 40s suffering gunshot wounds. Despite efforts, she was pronounced dead at the scene.
Locals have named the victim as Lisa Smith, 43, from Slough, though formal identification is pending.
Suspect Seen on Wrong Side of Bridge, Believed to Have Fallen in Thames
Police investigations linked a vehicle and firearm discovered near the Dartford Crossing to the murder suspect, who was reportedly known to the victim.
Witnesses spotted a man perched over the wrong side of the bridge barrier that night, raising fears he fell into the river below.
Kent Police, working with HM Coastguard and lifeboat crews from Gravesend, are concentrating search efforts on retrieving the suspect from the water.
Ongoing Murder Probe and Public Appeal
A full murder investigation is underway as detectives piece together the events behind the shooting.
Kent Police stress there is no further threat to the public and specialist officers are supporting the victims’ families.
Anyone with dashcam or CCTV footage from Knockholt on the evening of 14 February 2025 is urged to contact Kent Police on 101, quoting reference 14-0751.
“We are conducting thorough searches of the River Thames to locate the suspect. We do not believe there is an ongoing risk to the public, and specialist officers are supporting the families of both parties involved,” a Kent Police spokesperson said.
