Cheryl Hooper: Candle-lit vigil held for Newport shooting victim - with video and pictures
A candle-lit vigil has been held in Newport in memory of the mother shot dead outside her home in the town.
It comes as a fund set up to raise money for Cheryl Hooper's daughter topped £2,000 after two days.
More than 150 wellwishers attended the candlelit vigil in Farmers Gate, Newport, last night.
Watch footage from tonight's vigil
People lit candles, released balloons with messages for Cheryl and observed a minute's silence. Reverend Zoe Heming of nearby St Andrew's Church led a prayer.
They had gathered from 6.30pm onwards, and dozens released balloons with messages to remember Cheryl by.
By 7pm the street was full of those wishing to pay tribute, and wellwishers stayed beyond 7.30pm to pay tribute to a well-loved resident who touched many lives.
Fundraising
Friends are trying to raise £30,000 for Cheryl's daughter, to help ease any financial worries she might have in the future.
The JustGiving page, which went live on Tuesday, has been set up by Cheryl’s colleagues at Lawley Dental Practice, where she was a practice manager.
Cheryl Marie Gabriel-Hooper, 51, died on Friday from a gunshot wound to the neck. An inquest opening at Shirehall in Shrewsbury yesterday heard police were called at 11.13pm to Farmers Gate.
In a statement released on the JustGiving page, the organisers of the fundraiser said: “Cheryl was a beautiful person inside and out, always smiling and always ready to help those in need.
“We aim to raise as much as we can for her daughter, who is a credit to her Mum and an incredible girl.
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“We want to help ease the financial worry for her and also Cheryl’s parents. Cheryl was always so proud of her daughter and anyone that meets her can see why.”
They said that they hope money raised will go some way towards giving her the future that Cheryl would have wanted for her.
“We have set an ambitious target and hope to achieve it,” they said.
As well as donating through the JustGiving page, those wishing to give money can do so at the dental practice in Farriers Green, Lawley. It is located behind the GP surgery.
To add to the fundraiser, visit justgiving.com/crowdfunding/forcheryl
The fundraising efforts come as West Mercia Police confirm that a man arrested in connection with Cheryl’s murder is still in hospital.
A 45-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder. He is currently receiving medical treatment for gunshot wounds. The cause of his injuries are not being treated as suspicious.
He will remain under police guard while his wounds are being treated.
Police have been carrying out extra patrols in the Newport area since the murder.
Anyone with information can call police on 101, quoting incident reference 725s of January 26, 2018.
Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 or at crimestoppers-uk.org
The inquest was adjourned to May 10.
