Lisa Smith Obituary, Death, News – Police have identified the woman fatally shot outside a Kent pub on Valentine’s Day as 43-year-old Lisa Smith from Slough. Smith was pronounced dead at the scene outside the Three Horseshoes pub after emergency services were called shortly after 7 p.m. on Friday. Authorities have launched an investigation, focusing their efforts on locating a suspect who is believed to have been seen near the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge in Dartford, reportedly on the wrong side of the bridge.
The suspect is said to be known to Smith, and a car along with a firearm linked to the suspect were found next to the Dartford Crossing, near Main Road in Knockholt. These discoveries came after the police were alerted to the situation, and they are now concentrating on searching the River Thames for the suspect, who may have entered the water. At present, police are only searching for one individual and do not believe there is an ongoing threat to the public.
After the tragic incident, floral tributes and balloons were left outside the pub, with one balloon reading “Wonderful Mum” and messages such as “rest in peace” and “fly high, pretty lady” expressing grief for the victim. The victim had visited the pub previously, but was not a regular, according to Michelle Thomas, the landlady. She shared with Sky News that, while preparing the pub for the Valentine’s dinner, she heard what she initially thought were fireworks, but quickly realized they were gunshots. “There was so much commotion—screaming, shouting, crying,” she recalled. Thomas also mentioned that an off-duty firearms officer helped to control the situation until the police arrived.
Neither the victim nor the suspect were from Kent, though they had local ties to the area. Kent police have confirmed that the suspect and Smith were known to each other, and they are continuing to search for the individual, whom they believe may have fled into the River Thames after being spotted in the area. The investigation remains ongoing, with officers working closely with the families of those involved to offer support during this difficult time.
Local residents have expressed shock over the shooting, as the Three Horseshoes pub is known for being a popular and well-managed establishment with no history of violence. Parish councillor Ray Picot shared his disbelief, noting that it was an unusual and alarming event for the community. “It’s a shock. We’ve never had anything like this. It’s a very busy pub—a great pub. It never has any trouble and is very well managed,” he said. Picot also mentioned how police quickly ushered patrons back to their homes, as those inside the pub were left in a state of shock.
Another local councillor, Steve Maines, described hearing a “commotion” outside the pub, followed by the realization that someone had been shot. Maines, who was enjoying a Valentine’s Day meal with others at the time, recalled how the situation quickly escalated. “We were sitting having our Valentine’s Day meal when all of a sudden we heard this huge commotion outside in the car park. We were told someone had been shot so we had to leave,” he explained.
Detective Chief Inspector David Higham, the senior officer leading the investigation, spoke to the media on Saturday, stating that police are not ruling out the possibility that the suspect may have entered the water after being seen near the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge. Higham also assured the public that the investigation was focusing on only one suspect and that they do not believe there is an ongoing risk to the community. “We are currently only looking for one suspect and do not believe there to be an ongoing risk to the public,” Higham said.
The police are continuing their search for the suspect while also providing support to the families involved in this tragic event. The authorities remain committed to resolving the case and bringing justice for Lisa Smith. Meanwhile, the local community is left to process the shocking incident, which has left them reeling, especially given the peaceful and generally safe nature of the area.
