Police officer in Devizes shooting is named officially (From Swindon Advertiser)
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Second victim in shooting is named locally
8:50am Monday 4th March 2013 in News By Katie Smith
Bill Dowling
Police have officially named the man found dead from a shotgun wound in Devizes on saturday morning as Bill Dowling, 59.
He and his partner, named locally as Vicky Rose, were found dead in the porch of Mr Dowling's home in Moonrakers, off London Road in Devizes at 11am on Saturday.
Neighbours had reported hearing an argument, screams and then two bangs between 8.40 and 8.45am.
A couple next door saw blood on the glass window of the porch and went to investigate. They saw two bodies lying in the porch.
Police later found a shotgun that had been fired twice.
Detective Chief Inspector Ian Saunders said yesterday: "Exactly what lead to this tragic incident is still being investigated. The couple were in full view of anyone walking by.
"This is an isolated incident and at this early stage of the investigation we do not believe anyone else was involved."
Post mortem examinations were carried out yesterday and Mr Dowling was officially identified yesterday evening. Ms Rose is expected to be identified later today.
Mr Dowling retired from the force in 2007 after serving in Trowbridge, Marlborough as an inspector and at headquarters in Devizes in the joint control room.
He went to work for the MoD at Bulford and Tidworth and represented the ministry on the North Wiltshire Economic partnership.
He has two sons, James and Paul, who live in Devizes.
Ms Rose has two grown-up sons. She was a long-term partner of Mr Dowling, although she did not live with him.
Sandra Nairn, 54, has lived three doors down from Mr Dowling since 1992 and was leaving for work at Marks and Spencer, Devizes, at 11.20am when she saw police vans turn up.
“I didn’t hear anything but when I got back from work at 5pm I kept saying it must be bad
“He was a very pleasant to talk to and would come into Marks and Spencer to talk. His partner seemed nice and she would come into the shop too.”
