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Three people shot dead in Spalding, Lincolnshire Three people shot dead in Spalding, Lincolnshire
(about 2 hours later)
Three people including a suspected gunman have been shot dead near a swimming pool in Lincolnshire. Three people including a suspected gunman have been shot dead in a small market town in Lincolnshire.
Police were called to the Castle swimming pool in Spalding at 9am on Tuesday. No shots were fired by officers. Police were called to the Castle swimming pool in Spalding at 9am on Tuesday. No shots were fired by officers and Lincolnshire police said they were not looking for anyone else in relation to the incident.
Locals reported that a man had killed two female relatives. One person, who did not want to be identified, said: “From what I understand a man shot himself and his family. We have heard it’s a self-contained incident.” Local residents spoke of hearing a number of loud bangs followed by a flurry of emergency vehicle activity shortly after. “From what I understand a man shot himself and his family,” one person who did not want to be identified told the Press Association. “We have heard it’s a self-contained incident.”
Officers raided a house in Hatt Close, Moulton, Spalding. A police spokesman said: “We can confirm that there has been a firearms incident on Pinchbeck Road in Spalding, in the vicinity of the Castle swimming pool, in which three people have been fatally wounded, including the suspected offender. There is an ongoing police investigation and at this stage we are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident. A builder working nearby said he had attempted to resuscitate a “very badly injured” older woman. “I ran across the car park, jumped over the fence and went to help,” he said.
“When I arrived there was only me and another lad from the swimming pool who was trying to help. There were three people injured. It looked like the man had done the other two and done away with himself.”
The man, who declined to be named, said: “There was a man, an older woman, and a younger woman. They looked like a family. The man was already dead when I got there.
“The older woman was very badly injured and I tried CPR on her while the guy from the swimming baths tried on the younger woman, who didn’t look as bad.
“I would say the younger woman was around 20. The older woman was about 40 and the man looked in his late 40s.”
Chris Hammond, 68, who lives close to the swimming pool, said : “About 9.30am, I was sweeping the path, all these ambulances and police cars came just then and the ambi-copter [ambulance helicopter].
“I was frightened. Then the armed response teams got out with their submachine guns. I thought it was best to keep out of the way. My daughter lives in town and works for a solicitors. They were told to keep everyone inside. It did shock me.”
John Tippler, 86, whose house is yards away from the pool, said: “The only thing I heard, which I didn’t take note of at the time, was three bangs. I can’t say exactly when that was, about 9am. I only took notice of them because my dog looked up and I reassured her. I didn’t think of the being shots.”
He said that despite the police activity, he was only alerted to the tragedy when his son called from Cambridge to check that he was all right. “I usually take the dog for a walk through that area in the morning but it happened we had been earlier today and gone a different route.”
A number of locals thought the shots they heard had come from a nearby gunsmiths, where guns are sometimes fired in the backyard to test them.
One resident who did not wish to be named said he had lived in the area for around 40 years and never heard of any previous shootings.
Gary Taylor, a South Holland district council member whose ward includes the swimming baths, said the area was in shock over the killings.
“I was there at the swimming baths just last night and then this morning I heard that this has happened. It’s totally shocking,” he said. “It’s not an area that has any guns or gang crime whatsoever. It’s a very peaceful, safe, residential area so everyone is in total shock. The council is trying to reassure people … the gunman has apparently shot himself.”
On Tuesday afternoon, a large police cordon remained in place around the area of the swimming pool. A forensics investigation vehicle was present and a tent had been erected in the swimming pool’s car park. A number of police cars as well as a fire engine remained on the scene.
Officers raided a house in Hatt Close, Moulton, Spalding, which one resident in the street claimed was linked to the shooting.
A police spokesman said: “We can confirm that there has been a firearms incident on Pinchbeck Road in Spalding, in the vicinity of the Castle swimming pool, in which three people have been fatally wounded, including the suspected offender. There is an ongoing police investigation and at this stage we are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident.
“There is no indication that this is a terrorist-related incident and no shots have been fired by police. We would urge members of the public to stay away from the area at the present time.”“There is no indication that this is a terrorist-related incident and no shots have been fired by police. We would urge members of the public to stay away from the area at the present time.”
A spokesman for East Midlands ambulance service said three people had died from gunshot wounds. He said paramedics were called at 9.04am and that the three victims were found dead at the scene.A spokesman for East Midlands ambulance service said three people had died from gunshot wounds. He said paramedics were called at 9.04am and that the three victims were found dead at the scene.
“Our ambulance crews and paramedic officer were sent to the emergency and told to approach with caution,” said the spokesman. “Upon arriving at the scene our paramedics treated three patients who had gunshot wounds. Despite the best efforts of everyone at the scene the patients were pronounced dead. This is a tragic incident and our thoughts are with the friends and families of those involved.”“Our ambulance crews and paramedic officer were sent to the emergency and told to approach with caution,” said the spokesman. “Upon arriving at the scene our paramedics treated three patients who had gunshot wounds. Despite the best efforts of everyone at the scene the patients were pronounced dead. This is a tragic incident and our thoughts are with the friends and families of those involved.”
Gary Taylor, a South Holland district council member whose ward includes the swimming baths, said: “It is tragic circumstances for the family involved. We don’t know what goes on behind closed doors but this is an awful situation for the family. We can reassure the public that they’re safe.” The Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, tweeted: “Shocking events in Spalding, Lincolnshire. My thoughts are with the victims and their families.”
Earlier he said the area was in shock over the killings.
“I was there at the swimming baths just last night and then this morning I heard that this has happened. It’s totally shocking,” he said. “It’s not an area that has any guns or gang crime whatsoever. It’s a very peaceful, safe, residential area so everyone is in total shock.”
Nigel Chapman, a journalist at the Spalding and South Holland Voice, said: “There are scores of emergency service vehicles there and the entrance to the Castle sports complex has been closed off.”
Locals reported that schools in the area were in lockdown. Laura Spring, who works at the Woodlands hotel on Pinchbeck Road, told the Lincolnshire Echo: “We heard ambulances and police cars go by about an hour ago. My colleague heard that there was an air ambulance on the scene.
“We thought it must be something serious. It is absolutely devastating – you see these things on the TV but you don’t expect them on your own doorstep. I have a cold shiver running down my spine.”
Lynda Jarvis, who works at the Ship Albion Inn next door to the swimming pool, told the Guardian she had seen an air ambulance flying over and police vehicles and ambulances drive past. She said the business had not been told anything by the emergency services but that the road had been cordoned off.
“Spalding is getting a bit like that with stabbings and things like that,” she said. “It is shocking, but I don’t think it’s anything for anybody else to worry about if it’s a personal thing, so I’m not scared. You can’t let these people beat you.”