Man in his eighties dies after 'shooting himself' in Surrey gun shop

Police were called to John Powell Gun Makers in Reigate, Surrey

Man, believed to be in his eighties, was declared dead at the scene

Is understood to have deliberately shot himself, sources claim



Police say there is nothing to suggest that there is any threat to the general public or any third party involvement at this time



A man in his eighties has died after he 'shot himself' at a hunting shop this morning.

Police were called to John Powell Gun Makers in Reigate, Surrey, following the incident at 9.40am.

It is understood that police are investigating the theory that the shot was deliberate act, rather than an accidental one.



There is not believed to be a third party involved or any threat to the general public.

Police were called this morning after a gun shot was heard at a Gun maker's shop in Reigate, Surrey

Tragedy: An elderly man in his eighties shot himself dead in the shop

A Surrey Police spokesman said the man who died was a visitor or customer, not the store owner.

A spokesman told the BBC that it appeared that the man had shot himself, but was unable to say whether it was accidental or deliberate.



They said: 'A call was received to say that a gun had been discharged at the John Powell Gun Makers in the town centre.

'A man, believed to be in his eighties, was declared dead at the scene a short time later.

'Detectives from CID are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death assisted by local officers from the Reigate and Banstead Safer Neighbourhood Team, who are also carrying out a number of inquiries in the area.

Police were called to John Powell Gun Makers in Reigate, Surrey, following the incident at 9.40am

A Surrey Police spokesman said the man who died was a visitor or customer, not the store owner

'Although the investigation is still in the early stages there is nothing to suggest there is any threat to the general public or any third party involvement at this time.'

A local grandmother, who asked not to be named, said: 'I've lived here about 30 years and I've never heard of anything like this.

'Reigate is such a lovely town - that's why we moved here. You expect guns and all that shooting stuff to happen in London, but not here.'



The gun shop is next door to an estate agents, which has a sign on the door stating they are closed 'due to unforeseen circumstances'.



A local hairdresser, who works opposite the scene of the fatal shooting, said: 'I got here about ten to ten and the police were everywhere.



'I've never heard a peep out of that shop before. It's been there years, but I'm a beautician, so I've had no reason to ever go into a gun shop, so I couldn't say who worked there.

