Epsom College tragedy

[Bambala]

I was horrified to read the story about the headteacher and family dying this morning, this poor family and I can't stop thinking about how the children at school must feel learning about this tragedy. I am sure the staff there are being brilliant at supporting them. I remember hearing that my old headteacher had died after I left school and even then being really shocked and upset.

It is still speculation as to who pulled the trigger though

The ammunition is very definitely live.

We had blanks for things like night exercises, but were shooting .303s and .22 rifles on the ranges. You can't shoot a target with a blank unless it's from about 6 inches.

However schools with ranges have armourers and the rules are incredibly strict around gun use. I was terrified of the former Sergeant Major who ran ours... he was very fierce.

It highlights the fact that we are not a clean example of an anti-gun country. The privileged/criminals have always had access to guns and anybody determined can get hold of one if they try hard.

Why is there a crackdown on deleting discussion of news events?! Obviously if there are inappropriate comments then delete but there shouldn’t be a ban on discussion of events reported in the news!

We don't know what happened

The police will investigate and share information when they feel they have facts to share

It's early days and very tragic so I don't think anyone should speculate

Very very sad though for this lovely family and a young 7 year old child

Also sad and distressing for the school and members of staff and pupils

Target shooting is a perfectly respectable sport. There is also a need for guns in countryside management.

Do you want to ban archery too?

And what's it got to do with privilege? Plenty of working class people shoot in rural areas.

And access is either via a licensed gun club, or by having the appropriate licenses issues by the police (who also come and inspect where you are storing them and ammunition).

I think it's clear shots were heard and a member of staff rang 999. I don't think this is in dispute.

Sadly this seems to remind me of a case in Ireland, two teachers, Alan Hawe and his wife Clodagh and their sons. There was outrage at the way it was reported initially. So much glossing over what actually happened. They were even buried together. I hope that the truth is not glossed over here. If a man is responsible and the woman and her child(ren) are innocent it should be spelled out loud and loud who is responsible for the tragedy, who is the victim, who is the perpetrator. Not glossed over shamefully tot he point where they're all buried together like the victims were complicit in glossing over the truth.

Can people stop speculating please
This is someone's family and there are no known facts yet
It's also a school of young pupils and staff that don't need to read early speculation

Bless you.

Reported thread
As it is accidentally inviting early speculation which will be distressing for anyone even slightly reacted to this tragedy to read

sadly, my first thought was murder/suicide too and but i hadn't thought about access to weapons.

@WhereIsMumHiding3 , those associated with the school - parents / staff - are pretty clear re what happened.

Whatever happened it's clearly disturbing and scary that gunshots were reportedly being fired in the middle of the night in a place where there's hundreds of children residing.

Don't worry. It's been reported.

@xJoy - that case in Ireland was vile. So many excuses given on the basis of the perpetrators mental health.

Sadly many people suffer from depression and do commit suicide. That is tragic. They do not attempt to take others with them.

That was an absolutely horrific case. Later on her family requested he be exhumed from the grave containing Clodagh and her sons and moved elsewhere.

As well as the grieving family, it is important to remember what a difficult job the teachers have today. They have lost a colleague, and will be upset in their own right. Supporting children whilst dealing with the loss yourself is incredibly difficult (I speak from experience).

@LavenderHillMob I think the wording the police used is etiquette for family annihilation though.

You might be right and I'm not up-to-date with current code.

I find Here is the News that strikes me as Here is the Vague perplexing but that might just be me and it pales into insignificance alongside the tragedy.

But the police saying what they think has happened hasn't stopped the speculation on the NB disappearance; in fact it's made it worse as the armchair investigators know better!

We live in an age of censorship it appears which quite frankly is worrying if people can’t discuss what’s in the news!

I think that ship has sailed unfortunately. I am fairly local - many of the pupils read about it online before the school had chance to inform them. Closing down discussion on MN will in no way protect them from speculation.

Have you seen the telegraph article?

It’s not common in the private sector at all! It’s actually unusual. This is just awful news. The gunshots are now widely reported.