Cheryl Gabriel-Hooper: Mother killed outside her Newport home had reported concerns to police
Two police forces are being investigated over their handling of complaints by a woman who was shot and killed outside her Newport home.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has said it will investigate how West Mercia Police and Staffordshire Police handled incidents reported to them by Newport woman Cheryl Gabriel-Hooper before she was killed in January.
The IOPC said Ms Gabriel-Hooper had contacted Staffordshire Police on January 12, reporting a number of domestic incidents.
The police watchdog has said that the Staffordshire force passed the information on to West Mercia Police and an officer later obtained further details from Ms Gabriel-Hooper.
She died from a gunshot wound to her neck outside her home on January 26.
The investigation comes after both police forces referred themselves to the IOPC.
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Derrick Campbell, IOPC regional director, said: “I send my condolences to Ms Gabriel-Hooper’s family and everyone else affected by this traumatic incident.
“We will be looking at the decision-making and actions of both police forces prior to Ms Gabriel-Hooper’s death, and considering relevant force and national policies.”
West Mercia Police and Staffordshire Police said they were aware of the IOPC investigation and would not be commenting.
A 45-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder following Ms Gabriel-Hooper’s death.
He is currently receiving medical treatment for gunshot wounds. Police have said that the cause of his injuries is not being treated as suspicious.
Ms Gabriel-Hooper’s death led to an outpouring of grief from the Newport community, which also banded together to raise funds in her name.
More than £5,600 has been collected through a JustGiving page set up by her colleagues at Lawley Dental Practice, where she was a manager.
Nearly 190 people have donated to the cause.
The page was set up by her colleagues in the hope that it could ease the financial worries for Mr Gabriel-Hooper’s daughter in the coming years.
Daughter
Hannah Mennie, who started the crowdfunding campaign, said she felt she had to start the fundraising because it was something Ms Gabriel-Hooper would have done.
“Cheryl’s daughter is with her grandparents,” she said. “They’re both in their seventies, it’s going to be a lot of pressure on them. It’s a really daunting time for everybody.
“We wanted to make sure that they knew that people cared and wanted to support them.”
People can donate to the cause by visiting justgiving.com/crowdfunding/forcheryl
Alternatively, money can be dropped into Lawley Medical Practice.
Hundreds of people turned out for a candlelit vigil shortly after her death. It included speeches and prayers from local people.
Various churches were also open in the week following her death as a place for people to mourn or light candles. Books of remembrance were available to sign.
