Mrs Jackson can remember Mrs Ryan telling her about a mysterious "friend" Michael had made. Mrs Jackson noticed he was holding a gun in each hand. Having murdered Mrs Godfrey, Ryan headed back to Hungerford in his Vauxhall Astra GTE, stopping at Froxfield filling station. Here he found Susan Godfrey, 33, an attractive, auburn-haired mother, with her children, Hannah, 4, and James, 2. Healthwise, we're struggling. 14 - Myrtle Gibbs Similarly the Whitings, for years, simply drew their curtains and refused to answer the door. Later that night, the clear-up began. Press intrusion is something the Jacksons continue to feel very strongly about. He believes Ryan would get an illicit sexual thrill during his woodland trips and obtain pleasure and a sense of accomplishment from following and watching people unseen. Her training with St John Ambulance had led her to believe she could not have been shot, as bullets typically leave a large exit wound. "They were looking for bullet holes and spent shell cases to collect. The report also said the operation was hampered by press helicopters making so much noise it was difficult for police on the ground to hear or relay instructions. George White and PC Roger Brereton were in their cars when they were shot. After the murders, the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1988 was passed following a report commissioned by then-Home Secretary Douglas Hurd. The day before, on 19 August 1987, Michael Ryan, a 27-year-old Hungerford man, drove to nearby Savernake Forest and shot dead Susan Godfrey, who was picnicking with her two young children,. They survived, although Alison still has a bullet inside her. Eventually, shots were heard coming from John O'Gaunt School. Abdul Rahman Khan, was shot in his garden; George White, was shot in South View while driving Ivor Jackson home from work. He uses it against the people he has grown up with and against the unarmed police that are called. The event became known as the Hungerford massacre. Semi-automatic rifles Ryan used during his rampage. 33 years ago today, a sleepy Berkshire town was rocked by one of the most shocking mass shootings ever seen in the UK. "I was desperate to get into the house. "Ivor has very limited mobility, and his lungs are damaged from the bullet. Brightwell answered that he did not know at the time but was attempting to find out, and continued to persuade him to drop his weapons and come outside. He noticed the blue flashing light on the police car and decided to stroll up to ask the officer what was going on. Prof Jackson says it was at this point Ryan changed his plans. It was about 10 minutes since Mrs Jackson had asked her husband to return home and the two men had no idea of the danger into which they were heading. He was still labouring under the impression that there might have been a shooting accident. Dean called both her husband and the 999 emergency services. During the next 90 minutes, Brightwell and Ryan held a long and detailed conversation, during which Ryan seemed quite lucid, calm and easy to talk to. Seventy-eight bullet holes were found. His real passions were cars and guns. 33 years ago today, a sleepy Berkshire town was rocked by one of the most shocking mass shootings ever seen in the UK. Ryan shot Lepetit twice in the arm and once in the back as he fled. "I got into the house and slammed the door. The loss affected him profoundly and he became increasingly withdrawn, often going off alone to the shooting range, or working on cars. He explained who he was and his experience, and offered sympathy. "It hit at the heart of my professionalism, of everything I'd ever done for the town. The Jacksons had loved their home on South View, with its large garden, and were in the process of buying it. It transpired that they were the parents of the police officer who had run all the checks on Ryan when he had applied for a modified licence, to own more powerful firearms. Amongst others also later commended for their bravery were ambulance-women Hazel Haslett and Linda Bright, who had been shot at by Ryan but who had continued working selflessly late into the night to help other victims.It was reported in the tabloid newspapers that following the public announcement of Ryans death, the people of Hungerford reacted with relieved delight. The Hungerford massacre occurred in Hungerford, Berkshire, England, on August 19, 1987. Ryan fired at them and Victor died instantly, whilst Myrtle died later in hospital. "We got a letter from the Queen," Mr Jackson adds. Ryans school friend remembers his mother would buy the boy whatever he wanted, but his father "couldnt be played" and "wore the trousers" in the house. "'Some blokes gone mad with a gun', they said. Shortly before 2pm, Bert Whatley, a Priory Road resident, watched as Ryan, walking slowly, with his head down, entered the John OGaunt Secondary School, which was closed for the summer holidays. February 27, 2023 equitable estoppel california No Comments . Either way, the mourning period for an entire town was still to be endured.The Reverend David Salt received countless communications of support and offers of help poured in to the Hungerford vicarage. "She was dead on the ground, on her front just by the drive of our house. He had what appeared to be a normal upbringing, although he was perhaps overindulged by his mother. The Hungerford massacre was a spree shooting in Hungerford, England, United Kingdom, on 19 August 1987, when 27-year-old Michael Ryan shot dead sixteen people, including an unarmed police officer and his own mother, before shooting himself. He also had several different firearms: a Beretta 9 mm semi-automatic pistol; an M1 carbine semi-automatic assault rifle; and a Kalashnikov AK-47 rifle loaded with armour-piercing bullets. As his wife, Mary, says: "So many of our family were shot that day. There he announced that he had commissioned a report on the massacre from the Chief Constable of Thames Valley Police, Colin Smith. Sharp, acrid and smoky.". Trevor Wainwright says he is "haunted" by his father's death. ", PC Roger Brereton's funeral was held near Newbury. Mrs Jackson had known Ryan all of his life. I knew I had to be the strong one of the family, I knew Ivor wouldn't cope.". News crews at John O'Gaunt School in Hungerford, Berkshire, where Michael Robert Ryan committed suicide following the Hungerford Massacre. The Jacksons remember him as being a model-railway enthusiast and "a lovely man who would help you with anything". Godfreys children watched as he climbed into his car, which was parked next to theirs, and drive away without a word to them. "I effectively put myself on duty and thought because of my local knowledge I could show the armed response team the back routes around the town. "I just broke down in tears," Mr Wainwright says. Thirty years since the Hungerford tragedy. Two more vehicles driving along the road were shot at. Ryan had killed 16 people, including his mother, and wounded 15 others. Ryan, who was heavily armed, forced 33-year-old Susan Godfrey, who was on a picnic with her children, to put them in her car and She parked behind Whites car and opening the door and looking in, said, Oh Ivor and then hurried up the road. He also had a more sinister motivation for visiting the woodland. But what he did not realise was he was personally affected by the shootings. Here he shot her 13 times, dropped the groundsheet and returned to parking area. That summer afternoon Ryan, a 27-year-old unemployed labourer, killed 16 people . The Whitings' son Matthew, who was 11 at the time, was with his childminder in the playground and saw Mr Butler being shot. Later that day, his parents were driving up from their home in Kent to visit him. Ryan broke into the Gibbs' house on Priory Road. By this stage, the press had heard of the killing spree and arrived in the area, taking photographs of the dead and wounded, and unethically gaining access to some of the victims houses, by saying they were crime scene personnel. He told people he had served in the Second Parachute Regiment of the British armed forces, that he was getting married, and that he owned a gun shop. It was during this time that he lost his caretaker job. Residents of the area were becoming increasingly worried as they continued to call for emergency help and none arrived. At the time, the idea crucified me. Ryan was holding one of his most prized possessions - a Chinese copy of a Kalashnikov semi-automatic rifle. A few days after the murders, Mr Wainwright - who had carried out the routine checks for Ryan's firearms licence - was astonished to see the Today newspapers front page splash. Bob Barclay, a local builder and nearby resident, risking his own life, bravely ran out and dragged Storms from his car, managing to half crouch and half run with Storms into the safety of his garden. The help will come from within the community'. While Ryan roamed Hungerford, murdering and maiming people he'd known for years, a woman lay dead in Savernake Forest. "I just thought she was delirious from blood loss.". Whilst people did recognise that she was a victim, Canon John Reynolds, who conducted the service, selected not to mention her son and only made a brief reference to the Hungerford massacre. Ryan then shot at an ambulance, shattering its windscreen, as it was trying to reach some of the victims in a narrow lane. Mrs Pascoe, safe with her neighbours in a community centre, was playing cards with the children to distract them from the horror outside. ", Kathleen Wainwright later moved to Hungerford to be near her son. In 1987, Michael Ryan committed a killing spree that left sixteen dead and sixteen injured. The Hungerford police were already undertaking a manhunt for the killer and a police helicopter spotted Ryan. Changing his mind, he retrieved it and carried on walking, away from town. When Ryan was old enough, he purchased a shotgun and began to collect other weapons, which he proudly displayed in a glass cabinet in his bedroom. But, he reasoned, it was his day off. There was no way he would miss. "My brother and sister-in-law were on the list.". It was absolute panic stations. Former mummy blogger Clemmie Hooper is facing a midwifery misconduct hearing - three years after she confessed to trolling other influencers on a gossip forum. "I just started to run. Then he shot at Mrs Dean and sped back to South View where he set fire to his home and shot dead his dog, Blackie. Mrs Wainwright had the presence of mind to get out of the car and cower behind it. Michael Ryan was just so, so insignificant. As he went along Priory Road, Ryan stopped at the home of Myrtle and Victor Gibbs, whose door was, as usual, locked. He can barely speak about his friend, George White. Yet another vehicle drove into the area and once again, Ryan shot at it, hitting the driver, shattering his jaw, bursting his tongue and missing his spinal cord by two millimetres. Then he tore his heartfelt letter up. A police negotiator managed to engage him in conversation. "I don't think he fully intended to commit a killing spree that day. Mrs Pascoe stemmed the bleeding and stayed with the girl until an ambulance arrived. Crossing the street, shooting as he went, Ryan strode towards 60 Priory Road, the home of Victor and Myrtle Gibbs and blasted open the front door with his semi-automatic rifle. I probably did three or four of these checks a week. She recognised him as a regular customer at the petrol station, but not a chatty or friendly one. Ryan used a semi-automatic rifle, an M1 Carbine and a Beretta pistol to carry out a string of attacks in the village. Another witness reported that Ryan warned several children to get off the street and go inside. The Hungerford Report confirmed that Ryans weapons had been legally licenced. An elderly neighbour, Dorothy Smith, 77 years old and deaf in one ear, had come out into the street to see what all the noise was about. I was on the floor. The police were not certain if Ryan had shot himself or just fired off a round. Pic: Daily Mail / Hungerford Massacre 1987. The police had already received a report, from George, of an armed robbery in progress at the petrol station and were en route to her. Armed with an automatic rifle, a pistol and at least one. "I told her he had tattoos, was about 6ft 1in and had grey hair. "It's difficult to ascertain exactly how much he planned it, but I think it was well in advance and right down to minor details," says Dr Yardley. She had been to check on the building, which was just the other side of the street from her South View home, and was returning to her house for lunch when a springer spaniel ran past. He put some petrol in his car and some in a canister. Dorothy then saw her son with a gun in his hand and called to him, saying, Stop Michael. 12 - Sandra Hill He would also brag to people about things he had not done, in a string of lies that made him seem far more capable and experienced than he actually was. I need to get better and I will walk again. Dorothy Ryan tried to reason with her son. 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