Hampshire shooting: Man seriously injures children's author 'before dying in motorcycle crash minutes later'
"Detectives do not believe there are any outstanding suspects in this investigation," police said.
Friday 7 August 2020 08:00, UK
A children's author has been shot in the head by an attacker who is understood to have died minutes later in a motorcycle accident.
Police say a 42-year-old man, reported to be parish councillor and writer James Nash, is in a critical condition in hospital following the incident at a home in Upper Enham, a hamlet near Andover, in Hampshire.
A 40-year-old woman was also assaulted and suffered minor injuries.
A statement issued by Hampshire Police said a motorcycle failed to stop in connection with the attack.
And the force said that shortly after the shooting at around 3pm on Wednesday, a motorbike crashed on the A343 near Hurstbourne Tarrant - a village less than three miles away.
The motorcyclist, a 34-year-old man, died at the scene.
"While enquiries into the incident in Upper Enham are at an early stage, detectives do not believe there are any outstanding suspects in this investigation," the statement from Hampshire Police said.
It added that next-of-kin had been informed of the death and that "formal identification procedures are ongoing".
Phil North, leader of Test Valley Borough Council said he had been briefed by police.
In a Facebook post he said that officers are "confident that the deceased suspect is responsible".
The Andover Advertiser reported that Mr Nash is an active councillor who was heavily involved with the local community.
According to the newspaper, he is a self-employed artist who writes children's books, while his wife is a senior scientist for the Science and Technology Facilities Council.
The fatal motorcyle accident has been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct, as is standard in such cases.
Chief Inspector Kory Thorne, Test Valley district commander, said: "We know residents in the Upper Enham and Hurstbourne Tarrant areas will have been concerned by what happened yesterday.
"They are likely to see a continued police presence in these areas while we investigate the circumstances.
"Officers from our Neighbourhood Policing Team will also be carrying out patrols for added reassurance. If you live in the area and have any concerns, please speak to them."
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call police on 101, quoting the reference Op Plaque.