Girl, seven, dies after being shot by father
A seven-year-old girl shot by her estranged father after being caught in the middle of a bitter domestic dispute has died in hospital in Britain.
Yasser Alromisse opened fire on Mary Shipstone from a car parked on a driveway next to her home before apparently killing himself in the vehicle.
Mary was left in a life-threatening condition following the shooting in Spring Hill, Northiam, near Rye, East Sussex, just before 4pm yesterday.
But the youngster, who lived with her mother and brother, died from her injuries at 2.56pm today at King’s College Hospital, London.
Tonight, relatives spoke of their sense of loss as they released a picture of a smiling Mary dressed in her school uniform.
In a statement issued through Sussex Police, they said: “We are today grieving the death of our beautiful and loving Mary.”
It emerged that Alromisse was separated from Mary’s mother, did not live at the property and his death is not being treated as suspicious.
Chief Superintendent Neil Honnor, Sussex Police’s divisional commander for East Sussex, said: “This was a tragic domestic incident that has had the most terrible of outcomes for the family.
“We are working with partner agencies and local leaders to support and reassure the community who are understandably upset about what has happened.
“We are trying to be as open and honest with the public as we can but have to take into account the traumatic experience the family is going through as well as the fact that this is an ongoing investigation.”
Detective Chief Inspector Jason Taylor said: “There are still a large amount of inquiries being carried out before we can confirm the full picture of what happened.
“We are currently trying to establish Mr Alromisse’s movements over the last few days and are keen to hear from anyone who may have seen or heard from him.
“At this time, however, I am not looking for anyone else in connection with this investigation and believe this to be an isolated incident.”
Earlier, police had warned to expect the worst as Mary fought for her life in hospital. And teachers at her school, Beckley C of E Primary, said they had been praying for her and her family.
Neighbours in the quiet, close-knit community in rural East Sussex told of their shock at the shooting of a young girl in their midst.
The area was still a crime scene tonight with cordons in place as officers sought to work out the circumstances that led up to the shooting.
