A heartbreaking tragedy unfolded in the quiet village of Knockholt, Kent, on Valentine’s Day, as 43-year-old Lisa Smith, a mother of two from Slough, was fatally shot outside the Three Horseshoes pub. The incident, which occurred shortly after 7:00 PM GMT on Friday, has left the community in deep shock and mourning.
Mourners have been gathering at the scene, leaving flowers, balloons, and heartfelt messages in tribute to Lisa. Among them, a balloon reading “Wonderful Mum” and notes saying “Rest in peace” and “Fly high, pretty lady” reflect the sorrow felt by her friends, family, and the local community.
Rev. Tim Edwards, vicar of St. Katherine’s Church in Knockholt, described the disbelief that has gripped the village. Speaking to BBC Radio Kent, he recalled receiving a text about the tragedy and initially thinking, “That must be a misunderstanding, that doesn’t make sense.” He noted that many in the community share the same feeling of shock, adding, “It just doesn’t feel real. This sort of thing doesn’t happen here. It’s something you see on TV, not in your own village.”
Authorities have identified Lisa’s husband, Edvard Stockings, as the suspect. Following the shooting, police discovered a vehicle containing a firearm on the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, which spans the River Thames near Dartford. Investigators believe Stockings took his own life by jumping from the bridge shortly after the incident.
Reports indicate that Kent Police received emergency calls about a man seen “on the wrong side of the barrier” on the Dartford Bridge that evening. Efforts are now underway to recover his body from the River Thames, with authorities confirming that the suspect was known to the victim.
According to sources, Lisa had been at the pub with a female friend when the tragic event occurred. After the shooting, the suspect fled the scene, abandoning the car and firearm near the bridge. Soon after, police received distressing reports of a man on the bridge, further supporting their belief that Stockings took his own life.
