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Girl shot in the head and 'father' found dead, in Rye, East Sussex | Girl shot in the head and 'father' found dead, in Rye, East Sussex |
(35 minutes later) | |
A schoolgirl is fighting for life in hospital after being shot in the head by a man believed to be her father. | A schoolgirl is fighting for life in hospital after being shot in the head by a man believed to be her father. |
The girl, of primary school age, was shot at her home in the village of Northiam in East Sussex, sparking panic among residents as they learned a gunman was on the loose. | |
Children were grabbed by their parents and dragged indoors with doors and windows locked while armed police hunted the gunman. | Children were grabbed by their parents and dragged indoors with doors and windows locked while armed police hunted the gunman. |
They later found the body of a man who was said to be the injured girl’s father and who had turned the gun on himself. Police said his death was not suspicious. | |
Paramedics treated her at the scene but her injuries were so severe that instead of being taken to a local emergency hospital in East Sussex she was driven by ambulance to a specialist trauma centre in London. | Paramedics treated her at the scene but her injuries were so severe that instead of being taken to a local emergency hospital in East Sussex she was driven by ambulance to a specialist trauma centre in London. |
The gunman is understood to have turned up at his ex-partner’s home where he shot the girl. His body was found in a car outside the property. | |
Chief Superintendent Neil Honnor, of Sussex Police, said: “We are treating this as a tragic domestic incident and do not believe that anyone else is involved. | Chief Superintendent Neil Honnor, of Sussex Police, said: “We are treating this as a tragic domestic incident and do not believe that anyone else is involved. |
”At this stage we are not in a position to confirm the relationships of all those involved but we can say that the girl and the man knew each other. The man does not live at the address. | ”At this stage we are not in a position to confirm the relationships of all those involved but we can say that the girl and the man knew each other. The man does not live at the address. |
“We are treating this as an isolated incident and there is no evidence that any other members of the public are at risk.” | “We are treating this as an isolated incident and there is no evidence that any other members of the public are at risk.” |
Anthony Burr, a resident of Northiam, was in his garden when he heard a single gunshot, followed shortly afterwards by the sounds of police sirens. | Anthony Burr, a resident of Northiam, was in his garden when he heard a single gunshot, followed shortly afterwards by the sounds of police sirens. |
He learned after frantic conversations with friends and neighbours that a man had shot his daughter in Spring Hill. | He learned after frantic conversations with friends and neighbours that a man had shot his daughter in Spring Hill. |
“There was panic across Northiam,” he said. “We all went into lock-down and shut doors and got the children in.” | “There was panic across Northiam,” he said. “We all went into lock-down and shut doors and got the children in.” |
He added: “My neighbour, who my kids were playing with, said there were reports that a father had shot his daughter and was still at large. | He added: “My neighbour, who my kids were playing with, said there were reports that a father had shot his daughter and was still at large. |
”Then I started to get reports that he had shot himself. What appears to have transpired is that a father has gone to his ex's house where his daughter lives and has shot her. This has all come from neighbours and eyewitnesses. | |
“The whole of Northiam is praying for the little girl.” | |
A spokeswoman for the South East Coast Ambulance Service said they were called at about 4pm to an address in Spring Hill, Northiam, where the girl had been shot. | A spokeswoman for the South East Coast Ambulance Service said they were called at about 4pm to an address in Spring Hill, Northiam, where the girl had been shot. |
“Paramedics treated a female for a gunshot wound,” she said. “She was then taken by ambulance to Kings College Hospital in London.” | “Paramedics treated a female for a gunshot wound,” she said. “She was then taken by ambulance to Kings College Hospital in London.” |
Spring Hill remained closed off last night as police searched the area for evidence and spoke to eyewitnesses. | Spring Hill remained closed off last night as police searched the area for evidence and spoke to eyewitnesses. |