Man charged and two more arrested after two vehicles driving ‘erratically’ led to ‘gunshots’ being fired in Stevenage
A man has been charged and two more people have been arrested after collision in Stevenage led to "gunshots" being fired last week. Tom Harber, 50, of Essendon, has now been charged with attempted murder, possession of a firearms with intent to cause fear and violence, dangerous driving, and failing to stop at the scene of a collision.
He appeared at Hatfield Magistrates’ Court yesterday morning (Monday, September 11), where he was remanded into police custody ahead of a plea hearing at Cambridge Crown Court on Monday, October 9. A 25-year-old man from Basildon and a 31-year-old man from Essendon have now also been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.
The incident occurred at around 6.15pm on Wednesday (September 6) when two vehicles are understood to have been driving "erratically" along the A414 from the direction of Essendon towards the A1(M)[1]. The vehicles – a green Mercedes and a white flatbed van – then entered onto the motorway at Junction 6 (Welwyn), where they drove northbound towards Stevenage[2].
Both vehicles exited the motorway at Junction 7 (Stevenage) at around 6.30pm, and the Mercedes was subsequently involved in a crash with a private ambulance on the roundabout above the A1(M). Nobody was injured in the collision, however the Mercedes and van travelled on into Stevenage, along Lytton Way, and past the police station where "gunshots" were reportedly heard[3].
Lytton Way was subsequently closed to allow a full investigation[5] to be carried out. One man was taken to hospital with "serious" but not life-threatening injuries, believed to have been sustained before the incident.
Detective Inspector Iain Macpherson, from the Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire Major Crime Unit, said: “Extensive enquiries are being carried out and I hope that this charge and the arrests are reassuring to the public.
“Those involved are believed to be known to each other and we do not believe there to be a wider risk to the public. We are continuing to appeal for witnesses, information and dash cam footage and I urge anyone with information to get in touch.
“The green Mercedes remains outstanding and we are particularly keen to hear from anybody who thinks they have seen it. It has a registration ending in WUG. Please do not approach if you do see this vehicle but call 999 immediately.”
You can report information online here[6], speak to an operator in Herts Police Force's Communications Room via their online web chat here[7] or call the non-emergency number 101, quoting crime reference 41/71924/23. Alternatively, you can stay completely anonymous by contacting the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via their untraceable online form here[8].
References
- ^ two vehicles are understood to have been driving "erratically" along the A414 from the direction of Essendon towards the A1(M) (www.hertfordshiremercury.co.uk)
- ^ Stevenage (www.hertfordshiremercury.co.uk)
- ^ "gunshots" were reportedly heard (www.hertfordshiremercury.co.uk)
- ^ ‘I enjoyed a pint at England’s oldest pub and it took me back in time’ (www.hertfordshiremercury.co.uk)
- ^ investigation (www.hertfordshiremercury.co.uk)
- ^ here (herts.police.uk)
- ^ here (herts.police.uk)
- ^ here (crimestoppers-uk.org)