Valentine's Day Shooting in Kent: Lisa Smith Named as Victim

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A woman who was shot dead outside a Kent pub on Valentine's Day has been named by police as Lisa Smith. The 43-year-old from Slough was killed in Knockholt near The Three Horseshoes pub shortly after 7pm on Friday, Kent police said. She died at the scene after being shot. Tributes to Ms Smith have been left at the scene of the fatal shooting, including flowers, balloons, and messages such as "rest in peace" and "fly high, pretty lady". A "Wonderful Mum" balloon was also left outside the pub among the tributes.

Police said they found a vehicle containing a gun on the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, which crosses the River Thames, near Dartford. Detectives are investigating the possibility that the suspect entered the water. The force also said it believed the suspect was known to the victim. The shooting happened outside the pub on Friday evening, and there had been no prior contact between the police and the victim or suspect. It is not clear if the gun was legally owned. The investigation is ongoing, and police are searching areas of the River Thames and focusing their efforts on recovering the suspect from the water.

The incident has shocked the local community, with many residents expressing their sadness and condolences to the victim's family. Rev Tim Edwards, vicar of St Katherine's church in Knockholt, said the community was "doing what village communities do" by supporting each other and "pulling together and looking after one another". The landlady of The Three Horseshoes described customers "screaming, shouting and crying" as they realised what had happened. An off-duty firearms officer had intervened to bring the situation under control. The senior investigating officer, DCI David Higham, said officers searching for the suspect were "not ruling out the possibility that he may have entered the water".

A list of key events in the investigation includes: * Friday, 7pm: Lisa Smith shot dead outside The Three Horseshoes pub in Knockholt * Friday, midnight: Vehicle linked to the incident recovered at Dartford Crossing, alongside a firearm * Saturday: Police begin searching River Thames for suspect * Sunday: Tributes paid to Lisa Smith, including flowers, balloons, and messages * Ongoing: Search efforts continue, with police focusing on recovering the suspect from the water. The suspect is believed to be Edvard Stocking, who is said to be known to the victim. They are understood to have local connections and belong to the traveller community.

The incident has also sparked a reaction from the traveller community, with campaigner Martin Ward expressing his shock and sadness. He said the incident had "gone through the whole community like thunder" and that "men and boys fighting is one thing but this is different". Ward also called for support for the victim's family and for the community to come together to ensure such an incident does not happen again. The case is being treated as a tragic incident, and police are working to support the families of both parties involved.