Cambridge shooting: Man, 32, shot dead along with his dad hours after winning custody battle over his six-year-old son
A DAD and granddad have been cruelly executed just hours after winning a custody battle over his six-year-old son.
Joshua Dunmore, 32, and his dad Gary, 57, are thought to have been celebrating together just hours before they were shot dead in their homes six miles from each other in Cambridgeshire on Wednesday.
Builder Josh was targeted at his home in the village of Bluntisham, Cambridgshire at 9pm.
His father, the child’s granddad, was killed at 9.37pm at his home in neighbouring Sutton, six miles away.
Josh had just won a custody battle for his son, who pals said he doted on, following fears the child’s mum wanted to move him to the US with her new partner.
THREE ARRESTS
In the early hours of Thursday morning a man, 27, and a woman, 33, were arrested at a hotel outside Cambridge.
A third man aged 66 was later arrested in a stinger operation on the M5 near Worcester.
A white Peugeot 208 was recovered along with a shotgun from the car.
Cambridgeshire Police has confirmed the custody battle is an “active line of enquiry”.
Josh’s ex’s new partner is American and they planned to take the child to the US if she won custody, a friend claimed on Thursday.
They added: “That’s why Josh had to push for full custody, to stop her taking him over there. He won the case.”
Another pal added: “This act is just beyond evil, it’s premeditated and disgusting.
“Josh won custody of his son. Josh absolutely doted on him. He was his entire world.
“But what should have been the best day of his life ended up being his last, the day he was killed. It’s just horrendous.”
‘HE WAS DOING REALLY WELL IN LIFE’
Josh split with the child’s mum, a nurse, some time after the boy was born in 2015.
She remarried a USAF airman and was planning to move to the US with him and the child if she won the custody case.
Josh’s friend said: “They were together a good few years but split a while ago. I didn’t know her new boyfriend but believe he used to be in the army.”
“Josh had his own building firm and a lovely house. He was doing really well in life. He had loads of friends and everyone is completely broken.
“He was genuinely the nicest guy you could meet. On nights out he would leave with people to make sure they got home safe.
“If he saw someone struggling with their bags, he’d help. I know it’s always said when someone loses their life, but in Josh’s case it’s true.
“You couldn’t meet a better person. No one deserves to die like this, but in Josh’s case it’s especially true.
“It’s such a tragedy. Josh and his son were devoted to each other.
“Josh was incredible with his son. And now he won’t be there for him. And neither will his grandad. There are just no words for how appalling it is.”
Friend to Joshua, Demi-Rae Jenny, wrote on Facebook: “Going to miss you, you were an amazing person and dad and I cannot believe it.
“I love you always Josh and will always remember our laughs and jokes and cherish our memories and friendship forever. Sleep well, Josh.”
DEVOTED DAD
Joshua ran his own business, J Dunmore Building Services, having previously owned a building business with his dad Gary for a number of years.
He had studied at Cambridge Regional College and was devoted to his toddler son, who has not been named.
Samantha Impey, 51, has been a neighbour of Gary’s for almost a decade.
She said she was “shocked” by his passing and would often see him working on his rented property, a semi-detached £200k house, or say hello when she was out walking her Springer Spaniel, Ruby.
The 51-year-old IT worker described Gary as “tall with grey hair”.
A floral tribute to Gary, left outside his home, said: “To my dear neighbour Gary.
“A man who loved his family dearly, a dear friend to all, so helpful and kind and was always around as a friend and my little odd job man.
“I’m going to miss you.”
A further tribute said: “RIP Gary. Absolutely gutted.”
In an emotional tribute, self-proclaimed best friend to Joshua, Adam Dutch Cross, wrote: “Can’t believe it, rest in peace bro!!
“Another good one taken well too soon. Going to miss you my G- a proper decent bloke and best friends for years.
“Absolute insanity, I’m still in shock- always will be to be fair.”
One of the floral tributes left in Bluntisham said: “Josh, you shined such a bright light over everyone around you.
“It was impossible not to smile when you’re around.
“You’re going to be missed so much.”
‘YOU WILL BE DEARLY MISSED’
Another note left on flowers outside the police cordon around Josh’s house wrote: “Rest easy Josh. Your son was a very lucky boy to have a dad like you.
“Your bubbly personality will be dearly missed.”
A third wrote: “Josh, you shined such a bright light over everyone around you.
“It was impossible not to smile when you’re around. You’re going to be missed so much.”
Another pal, Harli, left a heartfelt note: “To Josh. I cannot believe I am writing this. This week was meant to be a celebration for you and your precious boy.
“I pray that you can rest in peace knowing you fought every day for your son. Everything you done was for him and he will forever know this.
“I will remember to pick up my smile like you always told me when I had a resting b***h face in the gym.
“SIBA will never be the same without you and your witty ways. Keep on grooving up their rude boi. Love Harli.”
‘THEN I SAW THE ARMED POLICE’
Police officers were yesterday seen removing Josh’s body from the scene of his killing.
Witness Gordon Murray, 62, said he watched as cop cars raced to the scene of Gary’s fatal shooting.
He said: “I thought it was an altercation or something. Then I saw the armed police.
“They were shouting something to the homeowners. That was it.”
He said officers asked for CCTV footage and when he checked it he saw a white car pass twice.
On the second pass the car stopped and someone opened the boot.
Support engineer Gordon added: “My son said he heard some bangs but I don’t know if that was the car doors slamming.
“There was a white hatchback which came around and stopped outside then half an hour later he came back and lifted up the boot.”
Det Chief Supt Jon Hutchinson, of Cambridgeshire Police, yesterday confirmed the two men shot dead were “father and son”.
He said the “primary line of investigation” was related to a “familial issue”.
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Mr Hutchinson added: “It’s been widely reported in the media that this may relate to a custody battle.
“I can confirm that is an active line of inquiry for us.”
He said officers made a “very quick two arrests in a hotel just outside Cambridge”.
Mr Hutchinson added: “In the early hours of this morning we did a joint operation alongside West Mercia Police at which stage a 66-year-old man was arrested on the motorway by armed officers.
“Following his arrest his vehicle was searched and I can confirm we have recovered a firearm.”
He added “at this stage we’re not looking for any further people in relation” to the killings.
Mr Hutchinson said: “A line of inquiry we’re focusing on is that those people who are in custody are known to the deceased and have had recent contact with them.”
He said forensic work was taking place to establish if the same weapon was used at both locations.
My son said he heard some bangs but I don’t know if that was the car doors slamming
Neighbour Gordon
A spokesman added: “The three people arrested in connection with this case remain in custody today.
“Formal identification of the victims has not been completed so we are not in a position to release further information on them.
“Post-mortem examinations are due to be carried out by Dr Ben Swift at Peterborough City Hospital on Monday, April 3.”
A spokesperson from the “sleepy” village Bluntisham Parish Council said: “We are deeply shocked and saddened to learn of the tragic incident which unfolded in our village last night.
“Our thoughts and condolences are with the loved ones of the victims of this horrific crime which has rocked our community.
“We appreciate the work of the first responders in dealing with this incident.
“We ask the public to respect the privacy of the families and neighbours in our village affected by this upsetting event during this difficult time.
“We’d also like to extend our sympathies to our neighbours in nearby Sutton, who will be feeling the same shock and sorrow following such an awful event affecting our two villages.”