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Tributes paid to shot policeman | |
(20 minutes later) | |
A 43-year-old policeman shot dead at the scene of a domestic argument had been commended five times for bravery. | |
Married father-of-two Pc Richard Gray, an authorised firearms officer, was killed attending a domestic dispute in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, on Sunday. | |
In a press conference on Monday, West Mercia chief constable Paul West said the officer had won recognition for his part in the arrests of two armed men. | |
Mr West said Pc Gray was a popular officer who would be sorely missed. | |
The gunman is said to have killed himself following Sunday's shooting. | The gunman is said to have killed himself following Sunday's shooting. |
Mr West said the police officer's family was "understandably devastated". | Mr West said the police officer's family was "understandably devastated". |
Pc Gray, known as Ricky, married his long-term partner last year. | |
'Weapon 'not fired' | 'Weapon 'not fired' |
The force said a police armed response unit was called to attend a domestic incident at 0610 BST on Sunday. | |
Det Ch Insp Sheila Thornes, who is heading the investigation, said the constable's weapon had not been fired. | |
"The ammunition allocated to the officer is all accounted for and there is no evidence of police weapons being discharged," she said. | "The ammunition allocated to the officer is all accounted for and there is no evidence of police weapons being discharged," she said. |
She said police were not looking for anyone else in connection with the shooting. | |
The suspected gunman, reported to be a former gamekeeper in his 30s, was found dead at the scene close to his flat and a weapon was recovered. | |
"Pc Gray was an excellent officer. He was very popular with his colleagues, extremely well-liked and held in the highest regard," Mr West said. | |
"The fact he had been recommended for five commendations spoke volumes about his character." | |
Pc Gray received a divisional commendation for rescuing a man trying to jump from Shrewsbury's English Bridge into the River Severn, the conference was told. | |
He also received a Chief Constable's commendation for his part in the arrest of an "unstable" man with a firearm. | |
The 43-year-old was also recognised for his part in arresting a violent man with a semi-automatic pistol who tried to escape police in a stop-check in April, 2006, in Shrewsbury. |