PC saved three lives.. only to be shot dead rescuing colleagues

A HEROIC Scottish police officer was trying to save two colleagues being held at gunpoint when he was shot dead by a firearms fanatic.

PC Richard Gray, a specialist firearms officer from Dundee, was gunned down outside a flat in Shrewsbury on Sunday morning after responding to a plea for help from two unarmed officers.

His colleagues at West Mercia Constabulary yesterday revealed dramatic details of the shooting as they paid tribute to the decorated, highly-respected officer.

PC Gray, 43, was part of an armed response team called in after two unarmed colleagues responding to a reported domestic incident at a flat found themselves confronted by Peter Medlicott, who was armed with a gun, at about 6am on Sunday.

PC Gray, known to friends as Ricky, and a fellow firearms officer were at the scene in minutes. As they approached the property, Medlicott, 33, appeared and opened fire, killing the officer with a single shot to the head.

It is understood that Medlicott, who ran a pest control firm and was described by friends as a firearms enthusiast, ran off before shooting himself in the head in his back garden.

"Approximately an hour later, the body of a man, now identified as Medlicott, was located by officers close to the scene," said DCI Sheila Thornes, who is leading the investigation. "A .222 calibre rifle has been recovered from the scene." No-one else was injured and no police weapons appeared to have been discharged.

West Mercia's chief constable, Paul West, said: "The whole force is shocked and saddened by the death of one of our colleagues and it is important to remember another man also died."

PC Gray's colleagues spoke of his "bravery, determination and professionalism" following a career that saw him receive a string of commendations, including

one for rescuing a man trying to jump into the River Severn from a bridge.

He also received official praise for his professionalism, decision-making and teamwork after the rescue of two women from the same river in July 2006.

A chief constable's commendation and a judge's commendation had also been bestowed on PC Gray for his part in arresting an "unstable" man with a firearm. He was awarded a chief constable's certificate of commendation, the highest award given by the force, for detaining a man who confronted officers with a semi-automatic pistol.

Prior to Sunday's fatal shooting, Medlicott is said to have been ordered out of a pub, the Plough, at about midnight on Saturday. Residents said he was later seen on the roof of a shed throwing stones at the windows of his flat, possibly during a row with his girlfriend.

Tony Jones, a neighbour, told how he was woken by his nephew shortly after 6am. "I saw two coppers drag the wounded officer across the car park outside my flat. I saw paramedics running round the corner to attend to him. There was a lot of blood. He was all helmeted up and had a flak jacket, but I have heard he was shot in the neck."

Other witnesses described hearing two shots together. They said Medlicott was "down-to-earth" and "even-tempered". Richard Duggan, 34, said: "I have known him for about 15 years and you never saw him causing trouble. He was into fishing and shooting and he was very quiet."

Leanne Taylor, 17, said her partner phoned the police because a man was "going mental" on a shed roof. She described a weapon she saw next to Medlicott's body as a "cross between an air rifle and a shotgun".

Police erected a tent in the garden and another in the road near the flat. A pane of glass in a rear window of the house had been broken.

PC Gray married his long-term partner, Jenny, in Venice last year, and had two sons from a previous marriage. His family were said to be "devastated".

HIGH PRAISE

POLICE Constable Richard Gray was commended for rescuing a man who was trying to jump into the River Severn from a bridge.

He also received official praise for his professionalism, decision-making and teamwork after the rescue of two women from the same river in July 2006.

A chief constable's commendation and a judge's commendation had also been bestowed on PC Gray for his part in arresting an "unstable" man with a firearm.

And he was to be awarded a chief constable's certificate of commendation, the highest award given by the force, for detaining a man who confronted officers with a semi-automatic pistol.