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| Devizes shooting: ex-policeman's family concerned over his 'mental wellbeing' | Devizes shooting: ex-policeman's family concerned over his 'mental wellbeing' |
| (4 months later) | |
| The family of a retired police inspector found dead with his partner in a double shooting say they had concerns about his "emotional and mental wellbeing" in the weeks leading up to the tragedy. | The family of a retired police inspector found dead with his partner in a double shooting say they had concerns about his "emotional and mental wellbeing" in the weeks leading up to the tragedy. |
| Bill Dowling and his partner, Victoria Rose, were discovered in the porch of his semi-detached home on in Devizes, Wiltshire, after neighbours alerted the police having heard gunshots. Officers have confirmed they are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident. | Bill Dowling and his partner, Victoria Rose, were discovered in the porch of his semi-detached home on in Devizes, Wiltshire, after neighbours alerted the police having heard gunshots. Officers have confirmed they are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident. |
| One neighbour on the Moonrakers estate said he believed Dowling, 59, had a firearms licence and that he had been seen in his shooting gear more frequently in recent months. | One neighbour on the Moonrakers estate said he believed Dowling, 59, had a firearms licence and that he had been seen in his shooting gear more frequently in recent months. |
| On Monday a statement from Dowling's family said they had recently developed concerns about the former police inspector. In the statement, released through police, they said: "As a family we are trying to come to terms with the loss of a much-loved father and grandfather. | On Monday a statement from Dowling's family said they had recently developed concerns about the former police inspector. In the statement, released through police, they said: "As a family we are trying to come to terms with the loss of a much-loved father and grandfather. |
| "During the last three weeks Bill's emotional and mental wellbeing have been in sharp decline and we are shocked and saddened by recent events. We are thinking of Vicky's family." | "During the last three weeks Bill's emotional and mental wellbeing have been in sharp decline and we are shocked and saddened by recent events. We are thinking of Vicky's family." |
| Rose's family paid tribute to the 58-year-old. They said: "Mum, Victoria or Vicky was sadly taken away from us on Saturday. Words cannot describe how the family are feeling with this loss, for such a caring person and for anyone that knew her or had any contact with her, would know how she was always willing to help and chat to anyone. | Rose's family paid tribute to the 58-year-old. They said: "Mum, Victoria or Vicky was sadly taken away from us on Saturday. Words cannot describe how the family are feeling with this loss, for such a caring person and for anyone that knew her or had any contact with her, would know how she was always willing to help and chat to anyone. |
| "We have been so overwhelmed with messages of support in such a difficult time and we know how shocked people must be in hearing this sad news and still it doesn't seem quite real." | "We have been so overwhelmed with messages of support in such a difficult time and we know how shocked people must be in hearing this sad news and still it doesn't seem quite real." |
| Neighbours on the cul-de-sac described their shock, with one recalling how Dowling had an interest in shooting pheasant. | Neighbours on the cul-de-sac described their shock, with one recalling how Dowling had an interest in shooting pheasant. |
| The neighbour, who asked not to be named, said: "I have known him for more than a decade and he was into shooting. I'd seen him load what looked like a big gun case into his car a few times, I think he went pheasant shooting. | The neighbour, who asked not to be named, said: "I have known him for more than a decade and he was into shooting. I'd seen him load what looked like a big gun case into his car a few times, I think he went pheasant shooting. |
| It was a big gun – it looked like it could have been a shotgun or something. | It was a big gun – it looked like it could have been a shotgun or something. |
| "He had long had an interest in shooting but over the last couple of months I saw him in his shooting gear a lot more." | "He had long had an interest in shooting but over the last couple of months I saw him in his shooting gear a lot more." |
| The neighbour added: "It just doesn't make sense. They were a lovely couple and he had recently spent a lot of money doing up the house." | The neighbour added: "It just doesn't make sense. They were a lovely couple and he had recently spent a lot of money doing up the house." |
| Detective chief inspector Ian Saunders said the bodies were discovered inside the porch of Dowling's house. It is believed Rose lived elsewhere. | Detective chief inspector Ian Saunders said the bodies were discovered inside the porch of Dowling's house. It is believed Rose lived elsewhere. |
| Saunders said: "We understand him [Dowling] to be a retired police officer – he retired some five years ago from Wiltshire police service. We have recovered a weapon from the scene." | Saunders said: "We understand him [Dowling] to be a retired police officer – he retired some five years ago from Wiltshire police service. We have recovered a weapon from the scene." |
| A neighbour said Dowling lived alone but was regularly visited by his partner. The neighbour said: "People always say this, but they were both lovely, nice people. He was very friendly, would say hello and ask how we were. | A neighbour said Dowling lived alone but was regularly visited by his partner. The neighbour said: "People always say this, but they were both lovely, nice people. He was very friendly, would say hello and ask how we were. |
| "He was a good neighbour and she seemed very friendly too. I just can't believe what has happened." | "He was a good neighbour and she seemed very friendly too. I just can't believe what has happened." |
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