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Four behind post office shooting Four behind post office shooting
(about 3 hours later)
Four men are believed to have been behind the fatal shooting of a village sub-postmaster's son, police said.Four men are believed to have been behind the fatal shooting of a village sub-postmaster's son, police said.
Craig Hodson-Walker, 29, was shot in the chest and his father, Ken, 56, was shot in the leg during the raid at the store in Fairfield, Worcestershire.Craig Hodson-Walker, 29, was shot in the chest and his father, Ken, 56, was shot in the leg during the raid at the store in Fairfield, Worcestershire.
Police believe three men went into Fairfield General Stores on Stourbridge Road with a handgun and sledgehammer while the fourth drove the getaway car.Police believe three men went into Fairfield General Stores on Stourbridge Road with a handgun and sledgehammer while the fourth drove the getaway car.
The mother of the dead man said he died protecting those he loved.The mother of the dead man said he died protecting those he loved.
Witnesses sought Judy Hodson-Walker, 56, said the family were "devastated at the death of our beautiful boy".
Judy Hodson-Walker, 56, said they were "devastated at the death of our beautiful boy".
She added: "We would like to thank people for their kind wishes and we ask that we are left alone to grieve in peace at this difficult time."She added: "We would like to thank people for their kind wishes and we ask that we are left alone to grieve in peace at this difficult time."
Ken Hodson-Walker was in a stable condition in hospital following surgery on Friday. Witnesses sought
A post-mortem examination on the body of Craig Hodson-Walker was due to take place on Sunday. Police believe three men went into the store with their faces covered and a fourth stayed with a silver Volkswagen Golf outside.
The family had fought off burglars more than a year ago, a villager said.
Fairfield has been described as a quiet village
Three men went into the store with their faces covered and a fourth stayed with a silver Volkswagen Golf outside, it is thought.
One was about 6ft tall, white with a dark hooded top and tracksuit bottoms. The other two were shorter and also wearing dark clothing.One was about 6ft tall, white with a dark hooded top and tracksuit bottoms. The other two were shorter and also wearing dark clothing.
Fairfield has been described as a quiet village
They all had balaclavas or scarves covering their faces. The driver was a white man with a hooded top and a scarf which was pulled up over his face.They all had balaclavas or scarves covering their faces. The driver was a white man with a hooded top and a scarf which was pulled up over his face.
The West Mercia force, which has launched a murder investigation, said about 100 detectives and other staff have been working on the case.The West Mercia force, which has launched a murder investigation, said about 100 detectives and other staff have been working on the case.
Ken Hodson-Walker was in a stable condition in hospital following surgery on Friday.
A post-mortem examination on the body of Craig Hodson-Walker was due to take place on Sunday.
'Absolutely devastated''Absolutely devastated'
Horace Lynton, 55, who runs The Swan pub with his wife Francine, said the family's business was targeted more than a year ago as they were upstairs in their home. Horace Lynton, 55, who runs The Swan pub in Fairfield with his wife Francine, said the family's business had been targeted before - more than a year ago as the family were upstairs in their home.
He said Mr Hodson-Walker and his father confronted the robbers, who had broken in through the shop door.He said Mr Hodson-Walker and his father confronted the robbers, who had broken in through the shop door.
They work their socks off and I think when you work as hard as that you do not want to give it all away to robbers Francine Lynton
Mr Lynton said: "The alarm went off and they came down to investigate and the father and son tackled whoever had broken in and they ran away."Mr Lynton said: "The alarm went off and they came down to investigate and the father and son tackled whoever had broken in and they ran away."
Mrs Lynton, 53, added: "They work their socks off and I think when you work as hard as that you do not want to give it all away to robbers."Mrs Lynton, 53, added: "They work their socks off and I think when you work as hard as that you do not want to give it all away to robbers."
Police had on Saturday morning extended the cordon around the village as officers carried out their investigations.
Officers want to speak to anyone who saw anything suspicious in the area around the time of the raid at 0820 GMT on Friday.
A silver Volkswagen Golf was 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.
'Heartbreaking act'
The post office had been targeted by raiders five years ago.
Carol Edwards, who lives near the shop and knows the family, said: "They're very helpful, cheerful, happy, nice people and they tend to put themselves out, particularly for the older people - very patient and helpful.Carol Edwards, who lives near the shop and knows the family, said: "They're very helpful, cheerful, happy, nice people and they tend to put themselves out, particularly for the older people - very patient and helpful.
"They must be absolutely devastated by what's happened.""They must be absolutely devastated by what's happened."
A police spokesman said officers believed the Golf car may have been seen parked and unoccupied in Bournheath Road before the robbery.
The vehicle was found intact in the road a short time after the shooting.
Officers want to speak to anyone who saw anything suspicious in the area around the time of the raid at 0820 GMT on Friday.
'Heartbreaking act'
A number of robberies have occurred in the Bromsgrove area over the past several months, police said.
Detectives are investigating whether the shooting is linked to three or four other robberies.
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."
George Thompson, general secretary for the National Federation of SubPostmasters, said it was a "heartbreaking act" and "absolutely outrageous".George Thompson, general secretary for the National Federation of SubPostmasters, said it was a "heartbreaking act" and "absolutely outrageous".
He said: "People have destroyed the family with this despicable act and this is a hard-working family that just tried to get on, provide the good service for the local communty."He said: "People have destroyed the family with this despicable act and this is a hard-working family that just tried to get on, provide the good service for the local communty."
Roger Hollingworth, from Bromsgrove District Council, said Fairfield was "such a quiet village" and it had "devastated the people there".Roger Hollingworth, from Bromsgrove District Council, said Fairfield was "such a quiet village" and it had "devastated the people there".