This is Constable Richard Gray, the police officer gunned down in the line of duty as he protected the people of Shrewsbury.
One of the town’s most honoured officers was shot dead after being called to the scene of a domestic argument in Castlefields.
His killer, Peter Medlicott, is believed to have shot himself dead moments later.
The tragedy unfolded near the Spar shop in Castlefields shortly after 6am yesterday. Mr Medlicott is believed to have been involved in a heated row with his partner, named by residents as Mildred Day, in the hours before the shooting.
Constable Gray, who was in his 40s, is believed to have lived with partner Jennifer Lee in Bayston Hill and is understood to have two children from a previous marriage.
It is understood that no police firearm was discharged during the incident, but a weapon was recovered from the scene by forensic officers.
Mr Medlicott is believed to have been found dead near his first-floor flat home and the police officer pronounced dead on arrival at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital.
A spokesman for West Mercia Constabulary said post-mortem examinations on both men had yet to be carried out.
Eyewitnesses in the Castlefields area described running from the scene as shots rang out.
Detective Chief Inspector Sheila Thornes, who is leading the investigation, today said: “The ammunition allocated to the officer is all accounted for and there is no evidence of police weapons being discharged.”
Mrs Thornes today renewed appeals for witnesses to come forward.
She said: “There is no evidence to suggest third party involvement at this stage of the inquiry.”
Richard Duggan, 34, who lives in the same block as where the incident happened on New Park Road, said: “I ran down to the back of the alley, there were armed police officers on every corner and they were telling everyone, including myself, to duck down and get out of the area.
“We just did what the police said. They had it all under control.”
Leanne Taylor, 17, who lived next door to Mr Medlicott, was left physically shaking after seeing his body outside their window.
She said: “At 4am my partner phoned the police because there was a guy on the roof shouting for somebody to let him back in.
“At 6am we looked outside again and there were armed police. We saw the dead man on the floor. ”
West Mercia’s Chief Constable Paul West said: “The whole force is extremely shocked and saddened by the death of one of our colleagues.
“It has had a profound effect on everyone who works for West Mercia Constabulary.”
Jan Berry, chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales, added: “Our sympathy is with family, friends and colleagues. Officers will clearly be traumatised but they will also want to ensure this incident is investigated thoroughly and professionally.”
The cordon in New Park Road was halved in size this morning allowing entry to the shops. Three police officers remained on duty on the road and two police riot vans were also parked on scene.
Mr Medlicott’s parents’ home in Ditherington Road remained under police guard today. Police said his parents were not at home.
Family living close-by were too upset to speak about the shooting.
19 Comments
I just wish offer my condolences and prays to all the relatives and friends of Richard Gray. It’s always a shock when things like this happen so close to home and a sharp reminder of how valuable life is.
id just like to say my condolences are with the family and friends in this very sad time.
On behalf of every police officer, rest in peace friend. My condolences to his family and friends.
Deepest condolences to both family and friends. A brave officer with the courage and heart of a lion. May he rest he peace.
I wish to offer my condolences to the family and friends of PC Richard Gray, a man who protected the public and was killed in the line of duty.
What is the world coming to when our Police are getting gunned down its getting to much like America over here.
My heart goes out to the family of P.C Richard Gray such a gr8 loss to the community God Bless
my heart goes out to the family at tjis sad time.
thoughts and prayers are with pc grays family and friends,this is so very sad.
I used to go to that Spar all the time.
id like to lodge my utter disgust at todays (monday 7th may) front page, the policeman that lost his life protecting the public should NOT share it with the man who pulled the trigger on him, he is a hero no question, the front page shouldve been decicated solely to him not with that horrible man on it, please reprint it without any other items on it, and dedicate it to the hero policeman, i never new him but i have friends who are in the force they are remarkable people, the man responsible may have been a great bloke,but he new what he was doing with that gun.
Things like this happen when people have guns to ‘play’ with. They should be banned. People who go hunting will just have do something else with their spare time. No-one ‘needs’ a gun.
I was very sad to hear about the death of that very brave police man who died in Shrewsbury over the weekend. My condolensces go out to his family.
During the 1990’s two very brave off duty soldiers were shot dead at Lichfield railway station which totally stunnned the local community and now there is a plaque on the wall at the station to honour the names and memories of the soldiers.
Lichfield is a very similar quiet market town to Shrewsbury - you have the castle and we have the cathedral. No town or city has been immune from gun crime now or in the past.
The regular use of guns in the nation says much about the PM’s desire to see guns off our streets - it has basically failed sadly !!!
From a Shropshire Lad serving in Lancashire our heart felt feelings go to the family of Richard GRAY,it is a difficult job which we do every day never knowing what the next minute brings.You gave your life in the course of duty your family and fellows of the county should be proud.
A credit to the Force he served .From our family to PC Gray’s family and collegues we offer our sincere condolences, our prayers and thoughts are with them
all.
I heard the news on our radio in New Zealand yesterday morning, and couldn’t believe that it could happen in my old home town. Very sad to hear, and our condolences go to the Constable Grays’ family.It’s always a tragic loss when a policeman is lost in the line of duty.
Leafy Shropshire is fast becoming a murder capital. I don’t know exactly how many murders there have been in the last 12 months but it appears to be extraordinarily high.
I wish to offer my condolences to the family and friends of PC Richard Gray, a man who protected the public and was killed in the line of duty.
PC Richard Gray is a hero. His family and friends who have lost will be deeply saddened but should also be proud of his bravery. He and his colleagues in the police service are all heroes. They keep us safe and sometimes pay the ultimate price to do so in this world. We should all remember that.