Pictured, mother and daughter gunned down at their seaside home
A MOTHER and daughter who were shot dead at their seaside home have been described as ‘beautiful people’ who filled their family with laughter.
Heather Whitbread, 53, and Michelle, 32, were killed at the house in St Leonards, East Sussex, on Friday night.
A 35-year-old man, who was known to the victims, was arrested on suspicion of murder two hours after armed police launched a manhunt.
Yesterday the family of Heather and Michelle paid tribute to the women. They said in a statement: ‘Heather and Michelle were both beautiful people that filled our family with laughter. They were both special, generous and kind people who loved life, but most of all their family.
‘They will both be sorely missed leaving a gap that can never be filled. We now just wish to be left to grieve in private as a family.’
The two women were shot at their home on Bexhill Road. Two other women in the house were taken to hospital to be treated for shock. One, who is pregnant, is believed to be Mrs Whitbread’s younger daughter Raven, 24. She and Michelle were born in London and the family spent time in Wales before moving to St Leonards in 2008.
Chief Superintendent Jason Taylor, East Sussex divisional commander, said on Saturday: ‘ Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the two victims who tragically died following the shooting in St Leonards.
‘The two other women who were in the house are being supported by specially trained officers.
‘Officers and staff from the Surrey and Sussex Major Incident Team are leading the investigation, supported
‘Get back inside and lock yourself in’
patience.’ Yesterday neighbours described how armed police, helicopters and officers with dogs descended on the busy main road on Friday. Several residents said they were not able to return to their homes until after midnight.
Neighbour Heather Page, 73, said: ‘The first we knew was the helicopters then all the police cars were on the road. We thought there had been an accident.
‘We started to go out and my neighbour came running out and said, “get back inside and lock yourself in”. They had seen all the armed police. We didn’t know anything until our doorbell rang and an armed policeman said, “can we search your garden?” He came back 15 minutes later to say the suspect had been arrested.’
Around 30 residents are believed to have been evacuated to the TA Centre a mile from the shooting.
Police searched the Whitbread family’s garden on Saturday and used a crane to remove a blue Ford Focus convertible from a car park near to the home. Yesterday a police car and van remained outside the house, while a cordon blocked off part of the car park.
Flowers were laid outside the home over the weekend.