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| Version 15 | Version 16 |
|---|---|
| Man shot dead in post office raid | Man shot dead in post office raid |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A man has been shot dead in a robbery at his family's post office in a village in Worcestershire. | A man has been shot dead in a robbery at his family's post office in a village in Worcestershire. |
| Craig Hodson-Walker, 29, son of sub-postmaster Ken Hodson-Walker, was shot in the chest at Fairfields Store, in Fairfield, near Bromsgrove. | Craig Hodson-Walker, 29, son of sub-postmaster Ken Hodson-Walker, was shot in the chest at Fairfields Store, in Fairfield, near Bromsgrove. |
| A second man was shot in the leg during the raid carried out by three men armed with a handgun and a sledgehammer. | A second man was shot in the leg during the raid carried out by three men armed with a handgun and a sledgehammer. |
| The injured man has not been named, but is being treated at Birmingham's Selly Oak Hospital. | The injured man has not been named, but is being treated at Birmingham's Selly Oak Hospital. |
| His condition is not yet known. | His condition is not yet known. |
| 'Shocked and appalled' | 'Shocked and appalled' |
| One Fairfield resident, who knew the Hodson-Walker family, said Craig, "was a nice bloke but he was no shrinking violet". | One Fairfield resident, who knew the Hodson-Walker family, said Craig, "was a nice bloke but he was no shrinking violet". |
| "I can imagine he would have had a go. He was not the sort to say OK, when maybe he should have done." | "I can imagine he would have had a go. He was not the sort to say OK, when maybe he should have done." |
| A Post Office spokesman said: "We are shocked and appalled at this terrible attack against hard-working people serving the whole community and we are very concerned for the family and will be doing all we can to help them." | A Post Office spokesman said: "We are shocked and appalled at this terrible attack against hard-working people serving the whole community and we are very concerned for the family and will be doing all we can to help them." |
| Superintendent Adrian Pass: 'Residents are in no immediate danger' | |
| Builder David Green, 59, who buys his paper from the store, said the family, who lived above the post office, was "lovely" and added: "Everybody knows everybody here... We always have a little chat." | Builder David Green, 59, who buys his paper from the store, said the family, who lived above the post office, was "lovely" and added: "Everybody knows everybody here... We always have a little chat." |
| The same post office was raided five years ago and Gordon Witcomb, chairman of a neighbouring parish council, said he was not surprised to hear of the robbery. | The same post office was raided five years ago and Gordon Witcomb, chairman of a neighbouring parish council, said he was not surprised to hear of the robbery. |
| "It is funny because around here there are a lot of little shops and there seems to be a programme of them being attacked by armed robbers," he said. | "It is funny because around here there are a lot of little shops and there seems to be a programme of them being attacked by armed robbers," he said. |
| Police want to speak to anyone who saw anything suspicious in the area around the time of the raid. | Police want to speak to anyone who saw anything suspicious in the area around the time of the raid. |
| False registration | False registration |
| They said it was too early to say if anything had been stolen. | They said it was too early to say if anything had been stolen. |
| It is believed the robbers escaped in a silver Volkswagen Golf later found abandoned nearby. It had false registration plates W337 DDN and was stolen in Solihull on 31 December, police said. | It is believed the robbers escaped in a silver Volkswagen Golf later found abandoned nearby. It had false registration plates W337 DDN and was stolen in Solihull on 31 December, police said. |
| The correct registration plate for the car was GP53 FJJ. | The correct registration plate for the car was GP53 FJJ. |
| Officers said the car may have got caught in rush-hour traffic on its way to the Stourbridge Road island at the junction of the A491 Sandy Lane. The post office was also targeted by raiders five years ago | |
| Det Supt Jon Groves, of West Mercia Police, said: "Significant resources have been committed to this inquiry, which is in its very early stages. | Det Supt Jon Groves, of West Mercia Police, said: "Significant resources have been committed to this inquiry, which is in its very early stages. |
| "The offenders are dangerous and must not be approached." | "The offenders are dangerous and must not be approached." |
| Fairfield resident, Doreen Davis, said: "It's a shock that it's happened in Fairfield. | Fairfield resident, Doreen Davis, said: "It's a shock that it's happened in Fairfield. |
| "We are only a sleepy place. If you didn't know we were here... you'd just drive through it. | "We are only a sleepy place. If you didn't know we were here... you'd just drive through it. |
| "It brings you down to earth a little bit and makes you realise we are all vulnerable." | "It brings you down to earth a little bit and makes you realise we are all vulnerable." |
| Fairfield First School, which is opposite the store, was shut following the shooting. | Fairfield First School, which is opposite the store, was shut following the shooting. |
| Head teacher Helen Hedar said several pupils had arrived at school at the time of the raid at about 0820 GMT, but no-one had seen anything as the school was set back from the road and did not overlook the shop. | Head teacher Helen Hedar said several pupils had arrived at school at the time of the raid at about 0820 GMT, but no-one had seen anything as the school was set back from the road and did not overlook the shop. |
| Police cordons have been placed around much of the village and pedestrians and cars have been diverted away from Stourbridge Road, the main through road. | Police cordons have been placed around much of the village and pedestrians and cars have been diverted away from Stourbridge Road, the main through road. |