Murder Suspect Plunges from Dartford Crossing After Knockholt Shooting
Police are conducting desperate searches of the River Thames after a murder suspect, linked to the fatal shooting of a woman in Knockholt, reportedly fell from the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge at the Dartford Crossing.
Fatal Shooting Outside Knockholt Pub
Kent Police were scrambled at 7.02pm on Friday, 14 February following reports of a disturbance outside The Three Horseshoes pub on Main Road, Knockholt. Officers arrived to discover a woman in her 40s suffering from gunshot wounds. Sadly, she was pronounced dead at the scene.
The victim has been named as Lisa Smith, 43, from Slough. Formal identification is yet to take place.
Suspect Seen Clinging to Bridge Barrier Before Plunge
Investigators linked a vehicle and firearm found near the Dartford Crossing to the suspect, who was reportedly known to Lisa Smith. Witnesses saw a man dangerously on the wrong side of the bridge barrier that evening. Fears grew he had fallen into the Thames.
Kent Police, working with HM Coastguard and Gravesend lifeboat crews, have launched an intensive search focusing on recovering the suspect from the river.
Ongoing Murder Probe and Public Appeal
The murder investigation remains active, with detectives piecing together the events leading to the shooting. Kent Police urge anyone with information to come forward immediately.
“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 involved,” a Kent Police spokesperson said.
Anyone with dashcam or CCTV footage from Knockholt on 14 February 2025 should contact Kent Police on 101, quoting reference 14-0751.
