A tragic scene unfolded in the quiet town north of London, where a BBC horse racing commentator, John Hunt, faced an unimaginable loss as his wife and two adult daughters were brutally murdered. The alleged perpetrator, wielding a lethal crossbow, was identified as Kyle Clifford, the former boyfriend of one of the victims.
After the devastating attack, Clifford quickly became the target of a relentless manhunt led by local police forces. Commander Jon Simpson of the Hertfordshire Constabulary confirmed the intensive search efforts, which continued into the early hours of Wednesday.
The suspect, 26-year-old Clifford, was ultimately cornered by armed officers in Enfield, North London. Despite being found injured, no police gunfire was involved in his apprehension, authorities confirmed. He is currently under medical care.
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The heartbreaking incident occurred in Bushey, near Watford, claiming the lives of Carol Hunt, 61, Hannah Hunt, 28, and Louise Hunt, 25—John Hunt’s wife and daughters. The three women were discovered grievously wounded at their home on Ashlyn Close at approximately 7:00 p.m. Tuesday and were pronounced dead at the scene.
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Clifford, a former member of the Armed Forces, had served briefly as a trooper in the Queen’s Dragoon Guards before this fatal “targeted” attack. His military background was briefly spotlighted when a photo surfaced showing him in full camouflage, a stark reminder of his prior life.
An ex-colleague from Clifford’s army days shared his impressions of the suspect’s early military career. “Clifford joined the Army in 2019 and I was with him in Basic Training,” he told The Sun. “When he joined the Army he was immature for his age and had a bit of a chip on his shoulder. He struggled to grasp basic military concepts but managed to reach the standard to pass out from training. I hear he was [later] working in private security so would indicate that he is no longer in the military.”
A friend of Louise shared heartfelt memories during an interview with BBC News. “Louise was always a positive person,” he said. “I knew Louise from our school days. She was really sweet and very kind. I can’t think of anything bad to say about her – a really lovely person all around, and super hardworking. It’s been a massive shock.”
As the investigation continued, the local neighborhood remained tense. Residents reported seeing police with heavy riot gear entering a house, a scene described by one mother who encountered the police operation on her way home from school drop-off.
A clearer photograph of Kyle Clifford with his ex-girlfriend, Louise Hunt, who he murdered along with her sister and mother.
Manhunt still ongoing. pic.twitter.com/CA9DrUog16
— zenXV (@zenxv) July 10, 2024
As police continue to piece together the events leading to this brutal attack, the question of what could drive a man to commit such heinous acts against those once close to him looms large.